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Says conversations between US, Iran "have been going on continuously, including four days ago, three days ago, two days ago, one day ago, and today"; Lebanon says Israeli strikes on south kill 5, wound hospital staff.


Middle East roundup, June 2: Trump calls reports of halt in US-Iran talks false 

HONG KONG: Oil rose while Asian equities firmed Monday as a surge in artificial intelligence-linked stocks helped offset uncertainty over US-Iran talks. Gains in tech-heavy markets drove investor optimism, despite uncertainty driven by US-Iran negotiations to end the war that has roiled global energy markets since February. Iran&#39;s chief negotiator warned Sunday that Tehran would not trust Washington or agree to any deal unless its rights were fully secured, underlining the gap between the two sides as talks drag on. Reports that US President Donald Trump had sent back a tougher proposal have further complicated negotiations, raising the risk of delays to any agreement to formally end the war and reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of global crude transits in peacetime. While both sides continue to exchange proposals, key sticking points remain, including Iran&#39;s nuclear program, demands for sanctions relief and the future of shipping through the vital waterway. The stifled progress has left markets sensitive to developments, with oil prices edging higher as uncertainty around supply flows continue. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose by 2.4%, while West Texas Intermediate, was up 2.8%. Across Asia, Seoul led the rally jumping by more than 4.0%, boosted by continued demand for chipmakers and AI-related firms. Memory chip giant Samsung Electronics rose by more than 9.0%, while rival SK hynix rose by over 2.0%. Taipei, Tokyo, Manila, Wellington and Singapore also advanced. Hong Kong rose in early trade though mainland Chinese markets lagged, with Shanghai dipping, as caution over the domestic outlook could have tempered buying. May factory activity for China was flat at 50.0 after two months of expansion, according to official data released on Sunday. Sydney and Kuala Lumpur were down. Analysts said the resilience of equities despite geopolitical uncertainty demonstrated how dominant the AI-driven investment cycle remained. &quot;Investors continue to embrace the AI boom while assigning a higher probability to an eventual agreement between Washington and Tehran,&quot; Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management wrote in a commentary. &quot;The reason is simple. Artificial intelligence remains the dominant engine of market psychology, and as long as Washington and Tehran continue to exchange draft proposals rather than missiles, investors appear willing to give diplomacy the benefit of the doubt,&quot; he added. Attention remains on incoming US data and central bank signals this week. Investors would also be looking to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang&#39;s keynote speech at Taipei&#39;s Computex chip summit. Huang &quot;will set the tone today, with a typical upbeat and highly positive outlook set to go down&quot;, Chris Weston of Pepperstone said. &quot;Traders will closely scrutinize any updates relating to demand, product innovations, supply chains and infrastructure buildouts impacting what is already a super-hot space,&quot; he added. Key figures at around 0230 GMT&nbsp;Brent North Sea Crude: UP 2.48% at $93.38 a barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 2.88% at $89.88 a barrel Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.1% at 25,452.47 Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.0% at 67,020.75 Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.4% at 4,084.46 Euro/dollar: DOWN at 1.1645 from $1.1663 on Friday Pound/dollar: DOWN at 1.3455 from $1.3464 Dollar/yen: UP at 159.48 from 159.27 yen Euro/pound: DOWN 86.55 at from 86.63 pence London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1% at 10,416.07 (close) New York - DOW: UP 0.7% at 51,032.46 points (close)

Visitors look at electronic display boards showing stock prices and economic indicators at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo on June 1, 2026. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)

Business

Asian stocks climbed on AI-driven optimism, while oil prices rose amid ongoing uncertainty over US-Iran peace talks and the future of global energy supply routes.

Asian equities ahead, oil rises as uncertainty surrounds US-Iran talks

Web Desk/AFP

US President Donald Trump urges Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Muslim-majority nations to normalize relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords as part of Iran peace and regional stability efforts.

Middle East roundup: Trump urges Saudi Arabia, Qatar to sign Abraham Accords in Iran peace deal

Adil Shahzeb

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) transformed Pakistan&rsquo;s economic landscape at a time when the country was facing severe energy shortages, crediting China&rsquo;s unwavering support as a defining feature of the bilateral partnership. In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV head Adil Shahzeb in Beijing aired on current affairs programme &lsquo;Beyond Borders&rsquo;, Ahsan Iqbal said the first phase of CPEC directly benefited ordinary Pakistanis by addressing crippling electricity shortages that had paralysed economic and social life across the country.&#39; He said China&rsquo;s investment of around $25 billion in energy and infrastructure projects helped add nearly 8,000 megawatts of electricity to the national grid, benefiting hospitals, schools, factories and households nationwide. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2058976964313235698&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F6158%2F&sessionId=43fcca235e7efd22e8f1a2b99e2c10749c894e76&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div><div class="fr-embed"><div><div> </div> Recalling the launch of CPEC in 2013, he described it as an unprecedented economic partnership that rapidly moved from &ldquo;a piece of paper&rdquo; to major on-ground development projects within just three years.</div></div> Iqbal also spoke about what he termed an &ldquo;organised campaign&rdquo; against CPEC during its early years, saying the government countered misinformation through public engagement and fact-based communication. He said consensus among all provinces eventually helped accelerate the project&rsquo;s progress. Discussing CPEC 2.0, the minister said the new phase places greater emphasis on livelihoods, poverty alleviation and human resource development through what he called the &ldquo;corridor of livelihoods&rdquo;, aimed at creating opportunities for ordinary citizens and improving education and skills development. Turning to regional diplomacy, Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan&rsquo;s role in facilitating talks between the United States and Iran had earned global appreciation, including from Chinese leadership. He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir played an important role in bringing both sides to the negotiation table after decades of hostility. According to the minister, the easing of tensions prevented further disruption to the global economy and rising fuel prices. He expressed hope that a resolution could be achieved soon, stressing that prolonged conflict would hurt poor populations worldwide through inflation and economic instability. Speaking during celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations in Beijing, Iqbal described the relationship as an &ldquo;Iron Brotherhood&rdquo; built on &ldquo;unbreakable trust&rdquo;, saying both countries had never witnessed an &ldquo;autumn&rdquo; in bilateral ties throughout their diplomatic history.

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, left, speaks during an interview with Pakistan Television head Adil Shahzeb in Beijing, China. 

Beyond Borders

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said Chinese investment under CPEC added thousands of megawatts to Pakistan’s power grid, while Pakistan also helped ease tensions between the United States and Iran through diplomacy.

Ahsan Iqbal hails CPEC success, highlights Pakistan’s role in US-Iran talks

HONG KONG: Asian markets rose Friday as optimism over US-Iran talks buoyed equities, though higher oil prices kept inflation concerns in focus. Investor sentiment stayed positive for a second straight day on hopes that diplomatic progress could stabilise energy supplies after weeks of turbulence from the Middle East conflict, even as crude prices ticked higher on the day. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said talks to end the war could progress, eyeing help from Pakistani mediators to help strike an agreement. &quot;I believe the Pakistanis will be travelling to Tehran today. So hopefully that&#39;ll advance this further,&quot; Rubio told reporters. President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that negotiations were on the &quot;borderline&quot; between a deal and renewed strikes. &quot;If we don&#39;t get the right answers, it goes very quickly. We&#39;re all ready to go,&quot; Trump said. A ceasefire agreed on April 8 halted weeks of fighting between the US-Israel alliance and Iran, but has yet to produce a lasting peace deal, leaving markets vacillating at every development. Tehran said it was reviewing US proposals but warned of a &quot;forceful response&quot; to any renewed attack, as both sides exchanged terms under the threat of escalation. A key sticking point remains the Strait of Hormuz, which remains effectively closed despite the ceasefire and normally transports one-fifth of global energy supplies. In Asia, Tokyo led regional gains, with the Nikkei jumping more than 2%. Taipei advanced nearly 1.5%, while Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur were all in the green. The gains followed a cautiously positive session on Wall Street, where equities edged higher at the close. Attention also turned to South Korea, where unionised workers at Samsung were poised to begin voting on Friday on a tentative wage deal that has averted a major strike. The chip giant and its union reached the provisional agreement late Wednesday following last-minute, government-mediated talks, avoiding a planned 18-day strike that was set to begin on Thursday. The prospective deal introduces a new bonus pool for employees in the semiconductor division, equivalent to 10.5% of the division&#39;s operating profit, to be paid in stock. While workers are expected to benefit from the deal, some shareholders have voiced opposition, vowing to pursue legal action against it. Shares in Samsung Electronics were trading more than 1.5% lower on Friday morning. Elsewhere, Japanese government data showed core inflation slowed to 1.4% in April, coming in below market expectations as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi rushes to draft an extra budged to offset the impacts of the Middle East war. Sentiment on Wall Street was boosted by Elon Musk&#39;s filing for a public sale of SpaceX shares, which could be the largest initial public offering in history as the rocket and satellite company seeks to raise up to $75 billion. Despite strong profit growth, shares in chip giant Nvidia failed to rally, initially edging higher before closing down 1.8%. Walmart also fell sharply, dropping 7.3% after issuing a cautious outlook and warning about pressure on consumers. Key figures at around 0215 GMT&nbsp; Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.9% at $104.52 a barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.4% at $97.76 a barrel Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 2.1% at 62,996.19 Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.6% at 25,531.90 Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.2% at 4,083.24 Euro/dollar: DOWN at 1.1611 from $1.1622 on Thursday Pound/dollar: DOWN at 1.3427 from $1.3439 Dollar/yen: UP at 159.08 from 158.91 yen Euro/pound: FLAT at 86.48 from 86.48 pence New York - DOW: UP 0.6% at 50,285.66 points (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1% at 10,443.47 (close)

Pedestrians are pictured in front of an electronic quotation boards displaying the Nikkei Stock Average on the Tokyo Stock Exchange along a street in Tokyo on May 22, 2026. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)

Asian markets climbed as optimism over US-Iran peace talks lifted investor sentiment despite rising oil prices and lingering inflation concerns.

Asian equities climb on Mideast optimism, oil edges higher

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Asim Iftikhar Ahmad called for reforms to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-security-council-demands-iran-halt-attacks-on-gulf-states" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">UN Security Council</a>&nbsp;and urged stronger multilateral cooperation during a briefing with a visiting US Army War College delegation, according to a statement released Tuesday by Pakistan&rsquo;s Mission to the UN. According to the statement posted on X, a 40-member delegation from the United States Army War College, led by Colonel Stephan Walters and including five female officers, visited Pakistan&rsquo;s mission to the United Nations for a country briefing. UN reform push Asim Iftikhar told participants the United Nations remained the central platform for addressing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/world-must-to-unite-hold-us-accountable-for-normalizing-the-proliferation-of-nukes-iran-fm" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">international peace</a>&nbsp;and security, development, human rights, climate change and emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence and information technology. He said global challenges were too interconnected for any country to address alone and called for stronger multilateral cooperation through the UN framework. The ambassador also discussed ongoing UN reform efforts, including changes to the Security Council and revitalization of the General Assembly. He said Pakistan supports &ldquo;democratic, transparent, and accountable&rdquo; reform of the Security Council while opposing the creation of new permanent seats. Pakistan&rsquo;s UNSC role Asim Iftikhar pointed to Pakistan&rsquo;s role as a current member of the UN Security Council in peacekeeping,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-sri-lanka-conclude-twoweek-joint-counterterrorism-drills" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">counterterrorism</a>, regional stability and promoting peaceful settlement of disputes. He also referred to the recent adoption of a Security Council resolution during Pakistan&rsquo;s council presidency that committed to peaceful dispute resolution under Chapter VI of the UN Charter. US-Iran tensions The discussions also focused on tensions involving the United States and Iran, the evolving security situation in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-israel-war-on-iran-day-74" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Middle East</a>, demographic change, artificial intelligence and Islamophobia. The Pakistani ambassador warned that instability linked to US-Iran tensions had affected global energy markets, oil and gas supplies, fertilizer availability, food security, inflation, maritime trade and global economic growth. Regional diplomacy Asim Iftikhar said disruption in the Strait of Hormuz carried serious implications for global energy flows and trade routes. He stated that the United Nations had examined several scenarios linked to a prolonged crisis and said Pakistan had also experienced economic effects from the regional instability. He described Pakistan&rsquo;s relationship with the United States as broad-based, covering security, defense, counterterrorism, economic cooperation and trade. He also said Pakistan had engaged with the United States, Iran, Gulf countries, Egypt, China and Turkiye to support de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy. AI and Islamophobia On artificial intelligence, Ahmad said growing use of AI in policy-making and institutional decision-making would raise human rights concerns and become a larger issue within the United Nations system. Addressing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/international-day-to-combat-islamophobia-data-shows-antimuslim-hate-rising-in-india-other-countries" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Islamophobia</a>, the Pakistani envoy said freedom of religion and belief remained a fundamental human right. He noted Pakistan&rsquo;s support for efforts at the United Nations to establish a special envoy to combat Islamophobia. The delegation included 33 American participants, two from Pakistan and one each from T&uuml;rkiye, Sri Lanka, Moldova, Guatemala and Ecuador.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Asim Iftikhar Ahmad speaks during a May 11 briefing with a visiting US Army War College delegation at Pakistan’s UN mission in New York. (Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN)

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan says it supports UN reform, multilateral diplomacy and dialogue on global security issues, including Middle East tensions, artificial intelligence and Islamophobia.

Pakistan ambassador calls for UN reform during US military delegation visit

Maham Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is hosting negotiations between the United States and Iran, the latest chapter in a decades-long diplomatic record that spans secret back channels, hostage negotiations, arms deals, and multilateral nuclear talks, most of which ended without a lasting agreement. Official records and news archives show that despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations since 1980, the two governments have returned to the negotiating table repeatedly, across administrations and across continents. What follows is a chronological account of every significant diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran on record. November 28 &ndash; December 1, 1943 | The Tehran Conference Venue: Tehran, Iran US President Franklin D. Roosevelt met with Allied leaders in Tehran to coordinate military strategy during World War II. According to US State Department archives, the discussions covered military objectives for the remainder of the war, as well as the future of Iranian sovereignty. The conference concluded with a formal declaration committing the Allied powers to the maintenance of Iranian independence and territorial integrity after the war. November 4, 1979 &ndash; January 19, 1981 | The Algiers Accords Venue: Algiers, Algeria (mediated) Formal diplomatic ties dissolved during the Iran hostage crisis on November 4, 1979. According to US National Archives, the two nations conducted 444 days of negotiations through Algerian intermediaries. The discussions covered four matters: the release of 52 American hostages; the unfreezing of Iranian government assets held in US banks; a formal US pledge of non-intervention in Iranian affairs; and the establishment of the Iran-US Claims Tribunal at The Hague to resolve financial disputes. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the Algiers Accords were signed on January 19, 1981. The agreement was properly concluded. The Congressional Research Service noted that the two countries have not maintained formal diplomatic relations since 1980. May 1986 | Secret Tehran Meetings Venue: Tehran, Iran US officials conducted secret meetings in Tehran in May 1986. As reported by the Reagan Library, a delegation led by former National Security Adviser Robert McFarlane traveled to Iran to discuss an exchange of arms for the release of American hostages held in Lebanon. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the broader arrangement also involved redirecting proceeds from arms sales to fund other covert operations. Iranian Ambassador Said Rajaie-Khorassani stated at a New York press conference that the visits were &ldquo;fruitless.&rdquo; The talks did not result in a formal agreement. January 1998 | Cultural Diplomacy and Track-Two Contact Venue: Various Iranian President Mohammad Khatami proposed cultural engagement during a televised broadcast. As per US State Department files, this led to informal track-two diplomatic contact, including sporting exchanges later that year. Official government-level talks did not follow. September 1998 | Six-Plus-Two Talks Venue: United Nations General Assembly, New York US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Iran&#39;s deputy foreign minister met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, within the framework of the Six-Plus-Two multilateral talks on Afghanistan. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the meeting was the highest-level contact between US and Iranian officials since 1979. The discussions addressed regional stability, specifically the situation in Afghanistan. The National Security Archive noted this as part of a broader shift in US approach toward pursuing direct contact with Tehran. The meeting did not produce a bilateral agreement. April 2000 | Bilateral Diplomatic Outreach Venue: Washington, DC Secretary of State Albright delivered a formal statement acknowledging the United States&#39; role in the 1953 overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, calling prior US policy toward Iran &quot;regrettably shortsighted,&quot; according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The outreach included the lifting of some US sanctions on Iranian goods. The CRS noted that this period represented a brief improvement in bilateral relations. No comprehensive diplomatic framework resulted. December 5, 2001 | The Bonn Agreement Venue: Bonn, Germany Following the September 11, 2001 attacks and US military operations in Afghanistan, the United States and Iran participated in multilateral negotiations in Bonn on Afghanistan&#39;s political future. The two governments coordinated on two specific issues: post-Taliban governing arrangements in Afghanistan, and the repatriation of Afghan refugees, as per the Council on Foreign Relations. The two sides worked jointly on terms allowing displaced Afghan citizens to return home. The National Security Archive described this as a notable instance of direct US-Iran cooperation on a shared regional objective. The Bonn Agreement was concluded and signed on December 5, 2001. May 2003 | The Grand Bargain Proposal Venue: Washington, DC (delivered through Swiss intermediaries) Iran submitted a comprehensive diplomatic proposal to the United States through Swiss diplomats, who represented US interests in Tehran. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the document (which became known as the Grand Bargain) offered nuclear inspections, cooperation on regional security, and steps toward broader normalization. The CRS noted that bilateral tensions had risen in the early 2000s amid reports of previously undisclosed nuclear facilities. The proposal was not taken up. Talks did not proceed to a formal conclusion. March 2013 &ndash; July 14, 2015 | The Secret Oman Channel and the JCPOA Venue: Muscat, Oman (back channel); Geneva, Switzerland (interim deal); Vienna, Austria (final agreement) The Obama administration opened a secret diplomatic back channel with Iran in Muscat, Oman, beginning in 2011. As reported by the White House, the meetings centered on Iran&#39;s nuclear activities and laid the groundwork for formal multilateral engagement. In September 2013, President Barack Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke by telephone (the most direct contact between the two countries&#39; leaders since 1979). The call opened a formal negotiating track between Iran and the P5+1 &mdash; the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany. An interim agreement, the Joint Plan of Action, was signed in Geneva on November 24, 2013, providing limited sanctions relief in exchange for a partial freeze of Iran&#39;s nuclear activities. The process moved to full negotiations and concluded in Vienna on July 14, 2015, with the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The JCPOA required Iran to dismantle and redesign its nuclear reactor at Arak, submit to enhanced IAEA verification, and limit uranium enrichment for a minimum of 15 years. In exchange, the US waived secondary sanctions on Iran&#39;s oil exports and financial sector, the EU lifted its ban on Iranian oil purchases, and UN Security Council resolutions imposing related restrictions were revoked, per the CRS. The agreement was concluded and signed by China, France, Germany, Iran, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. April 2021 &ndash; August 2022 | JCPOA Revival Talks Venue: Vienna, Austria Multilateral negotiations aimed at restoring mutual compliance with the 2015 JCPOA were held in Vienna beginning in April 2021. According to the US State Department, the meetings focused on a mutual return to the terms of the 2015 nuclear agreement. The sessions were structured as proximity meetings, in which US and Iranian delegations held separate sessions in the same building while European intermediaries carried proposals between them. The CRS reported that the talks addressed the same core issues as the original JCPOA: the scope of Iran&#39;s nuclear activities and the corresponding level of sanctions relief. Multiple rounds were held over more than a year. The talks did not reach a new agreement. September 2023 | Prisoner Exchange Venue: Doha, Qatar (transfer point) The United States and Iran concluded a prisoner exchange mediated by Oman, Qatar, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The specific terms covered two matters: the release of five Iranian-American dual citizens detained in Iran; and the transfer of approximately $6 billion in Iranian funds frozen in South Korea, released through a US sanctions waiver and routed through Qatar. The CRS reported that the funds were designated exclusively for humanitarian purchases. The exchange was concluded. No broader nuclear or diplomatic agreement was attached to it. April 12 &ndash; May 11, 2025 | Direct Nuclear Talks Venue: Muscat, Oman (April 12, April 26, May 11); Rome, Italy (April 19) Four rounds of direct US-Iran nuclear talks were held between April 12 and May 11, 2025. As reported by Iranian state news, the delegations were led by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. It was the first direct, face-to-face engagement between US and Iranian diplomats since 2017. Omani officials served as intermediaries across multiple sessions. The discussions addressed Iran&#39;s nuclear enrichment program and the removal of US sanctions. The CRS reported that the two sides exchanged written proposals during this period. The discussions were inconclusive. No agreement was finalized. April 11, 2026 | Islamabad Talks Venue: Islamabad, Pakistan Pakistan is currently hosting negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad. Officially dubbed Islamabad talks will begin on April 11, 2026, following a military conflict between the two sides that began February 28. As per Iranian government statements, the agenda covers a 10-point peace plan addressing regional stability and the status of the Strait of Hormuz. These negotiations are currently active.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) talks on January 14, 2015 with US State Secretary John Kerry before their meeting in Geneva. Zarif said on January 14 that his meeting with his US counterpart was vital for progress on talks on Tehran's co

From a 1943 wartime conference to active talks in Islamabad, the United States and Iran have sat across the table from each other repeatedly — through revolution, hostage crises, and nuclear standoffs.

The secret channels, sealed deals, and unfinished business of US-Iran diplomacy

BAKU: Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev accused Iran of &quot;terrorism&quot; and threatened retaliation after drone attacks Thursday targeted an airport and a school in an Azerbaijani border region, an incident that could drag yet another country into the Mideast war.&nbsp;Tehran denied the allegation and blamed Israel, Azerbaijan&#39;s ally, of trying to stage a provocation.&nbsp;The midday attacks involved at least four drones that crossed from Iran into Azerbaijan&#39;s exclave of Nakhchivan bordering Iran, with one hitting the airport and another exploding near a school, Baku said.&nbsp;Video footage published by Azerbaijani media showed what appeared to be a drone crashing into the ground and exploding near the school, followed by loud screams from children in the building.&nbsp;AFP could not verify the footage.&nbsp;&quot;Today a terrorist act was carried out from the Iranian side against the territory of Azerbaijan,&quot; Aliyev told a hastily convened security council meeting.&nbsp;Azerbaijan&#39;s military &quot;have been instructed to prepare and carry out retaliatory measures ... placed on mobilisation level number one, and must be ready to conduct any operation,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;Those dishonourable people who committed this terrorist act against us will regret it. Let them not test our strength... This stain will never be erased from their dirty and ugly face,&quot; he added.&nbsp;The Azerbaijani defence ministry said it had detected four drones launched by Iran&#39;s army.&nbsp;&quot;One of them was disabled by the Azerbaijani army, while the others were directed at civilian infrastructure, including a secondary school building during class hours. Fortunately, the drone targeting the school did not reach its objective and instead fell and exploded near the school,&quot; it said.&nbsp;The Nakhichevan Airport terminal was damaged, with video showing grey smoke rising above the building after the strike.&nbsp;Four people were hospitalised with &quot;traumatic brain injuries,&quot; Sahib Abuzarov, head of emergency services at a hospital in Nakhichevan said later.&nbsp;The general staff of Iran&#39;s armed forces said it did not carry out the attack and pointed the finger at Israel.&nbsp;&quot;Such actions by the Zionist regime, aimed at disrupting relations between Muslim countries in various ways, are not unprecedented,&quot; it said in a statement.&nbsp;Azerbaijan-Israel partnershipFrance&#39;s foreign ministry said the &quot;unjustifiable&quot; attack &quot;constitutes a blatant violation of Azerbaijan&#39;s sovereignty and of international law.&quot;&nbsp;Turkey&#39;s foreign ministry condemned strikes &quot;which target third countries in the region and increase the risk of the war spreading.&quot;&nbsp;Azerbaijan summoned the Iranian envoy in Baku over the incident.&nbsp;&quot;We demanded from the Islamic Republic of Iran to provide, within the shortest possible timeframe, a clear explanation regarding the case and conduct investigation,&quot; foreign ministry spokesman, Aykhan Hajizada, told AFP.&nbsp;Analysts have said Azerbaijan&#39;s Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline -- which runs through neighboring Georgia and Turkey and carries around a third of Israel&#39;s oil imports -- could become a potential target for the Iranian military.&nbsp;In 2024, Azerbaijan exported 2.37 million tonnes of oil to Israel via the pipeline, director of the Baku-based Centre for Oil Research, Ilham Shaban, told AFP.&nbsp;&quot;The pipeline is buried underground along most of its route, making it difficult to disable,&quot; he said, adding that &quot;above-ground facilities -- such as terminals and pumping stations -- could still be vulnerable to Iranian drone strikes.&quot;&nbsp;Iran has long expressed concern that Israel -- a close ally of Azerbaijan and a key arms supplier -- could use Azerbaijani territory to stage attacks.&nbsp;Last June, Azerbaijan reassured Tehran that it would not allow such use of its territory after Israel launched a large-scale strike on Iranian targets.&nbsp;Tehran has historically been wary of separatist sentiment among its ethnic Azerbaijani minority, which makes up around 10 million of Iran&#39;s 83 million citizens.

Asia

Azerbaijan accused Iran of launching drones into Nakhchivan, damaging an airport and near a school, injuring four. President Ilham Aliyev ordered retaliatory readiness, escalating regional tensions. Iran denied involvement, blaming Israel.

Azerbaijan vows retaliation after Iran's 'terrorist' drone strikes

TEHRAN: Iran on Tuesday urged the United Nations Security Council to take action to stop the Islamic republic&#39;s war with Israel and the United States.&nbsp;&quot;The United Nations Security Council has a duty... if it wishes, it can certainly act, because there is no obstacle to its action except its own will,&quot; said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei during a foreign ministry briefing.

Iran asked the United Nations Security Council to help stop its war with Israel and the United States. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the council can take action if it wants to and has the will to do so.

Iran urges UN Security Council to move to stop war

NEW YORK: First Lady Melania Trump presided over a United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday, calling for cause of children affected by conflict as fighting continued in the US-Israeli war against Iran. Ambassadors from all of the Security Council&#39;s members, including Washington&#39;s rivals Russia and China, lined up to meet with Trump. Representing the United States as it assumed the monthly Security Council&rsquo;s rotating presidency.&nbsp; She opened the session with a ceremonial strike of the gavel, thanking the United Kingdom for its previous month-long presidency, and spoke again later apparently to honor US service members killed in the war on Iran. &ldquo;The US stands with all of the children throughout the world. I hope soon peace will be yours,&rdquo; she said, without directly referencing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.Later, she paid tribute to American service members killed in the war on Iran. &ldquo;To the families who have lost their heroes who sacrifice their lives for freedom, their bravery and dedication will always be remembered,&rdquo; she told the packed chamber. She added that &ldquo;enduring peace will be achieved when knowledge and understanding are fully valued within all our societies.&rdquo; Ambassadors from all 15 Council members, including rivals Russia and China, attended the meeting and greeted the First Lady. Greece&rsquo;s ambassador Aglaia Balta addressed her as &ldquo;Madam President,&rdquo; while France&rsquo;s envoy drew comparisons to former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, a noted human rights advocate. Even Russia offered polite praise, steering clear of direct mention of Iran. Bahrain, a close US ally, was the only Council member to explicitly reference the conflict. However, criticism emerged from Iran. Its UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, called it &ldquo;deeply shameful and hypocritical that on the very first day of its presidency of the Security Council, the United States convened a high-level meeting on protecting children.&quot;&nbsp; Moments later the First Lady said &quot;the US stands with all of the children throughout the world. I hope soon peace will be yours&quot; &nbsp;without referring directly to the attacks across the Middle East. She was warmly received by the countries represented in the Council however, with Greece&#39;s ambassador Aglaia Balta saying &quot;thank you madam president,&quot; while France&#39;s envoy compared her to the celebrated former first lady and activist Eleanor Roosevelt.&nbsp; Even Russia joined the chorus of polite praise, avoiding any mention of Iran, which was mentioned only by Council member and Washington&#39;s staunch ally Bahrain. &quot;I wish you all strength and resolve to succeed in preserving peace and security throughout the world,&quot; Trump said as she closed the two-hour meeting.&nbsp; &nbsp;Financial, political tensions&nbsp;Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, confirmed that Trump&#39;s appearance was the first time a first lady or first gentleman had presided a Security Council meeting. The United States holds the Council&#39;s rotating presidency for March. President Donald Trump&#39;s third wife has dabbled in diplomacy before, notably to try to secure the release of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.&nbsp; Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, paid tribute to her &quot;for her work to give visibility to the issue of children in conflict, and particularly for her personal engagement to reunite Ukrainian children with their families.&quot; Political and financial tensions have mounted between the United States and the United Nations in recent years, with Washington chafing at its role as the main contributor to the body&#39;s cash-strapped budget.&nbsp; Many observers say the US president intends to bypass the Security Council with his new &quot;Board of Peace,&quot; which held its inaugural session in Washington last month, with several countries pledging funds and personnel to rebuild Gaza. At the meeting, Trump repeated his stance that the UN had failed in its mission. Since returning to the White House last year, he has withdrawn support from several major UN agencies, including the World Health Organization. The world body has recently launched a reform program, and a few days ago Washington paid $160 million into the organization&#39;s regular budget after paying nothing in 2025.&nbsp; But the United States is still $4 billion in arrears to the UN for its regular budget and its peacekeeping budget, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning of imminent financial collapse.&nbsp;

US First Lady Melania Trump chairs a meeting of the United Nations Security Council at UN Headquarters in New York on March 2, 2026.

Ambassadors from all of the Security Council's members, including Washington's rivals Russia and China, lined up to meet with Trump. Representing the United States as it assumed the monthly Security Council’s rotating presidency. 

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