“Final negotiations on ‘Peace’ are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The blockade will remain in place, and in full force and effect, until a ‘Final Deal’ is reached. Things should move quickly.”

Trump has been signaling for weeks that a preliminary agreement to end the conflict is close, but a deal has yet to materialize.

Trump’s statement comes after Iran and Israel indicated a willingness to halt strikes against each other.

According to The Times of Israel, a regional official said the United States had informed Iran that there would be no further Israeli attacks if Tehran halted its missile strikes. The report added that Israel had agreed, for now, to suspend attacks.

An Israeli official told Hebrew media outlets that the decision was made at Trump’s request, while stressing that Israel would continue operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

“The sense is that this round of fighting is behind us. We are awaiting a final decision from the political leadership,” the official said.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported, citing a senior Israeli official, that Israel was suspending attacks on Iran at Trump’s request. The report added that Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon would continue if Hezbollah attacks Israel.

There have also been reports in both Israeli and US media of a phone call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, although details of the conversation have not been made public.

Iran said it had suspended military operations against Israel but warned that it would resume them if attacks continued, including in southern Lebanon, where Israel is carrying out ongoing operations.

“The powerful Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in support of the oppressed people of Lebanon, delivered a painful response to this regime (Israel),” Iran’s military said in a statement cited by Tasnim news agency.

“Should the aggressions and hostile acts continue – including in southern Lebanon – far more severe and crushing measures than before will be forthcoming,” it said.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a message to government ministers on Monday that Israel “will not accept the regime in Tehran’s attempt to create a new equation,” whereby strikes on targets in a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut “are met with Iranian attacks on population centers in Israel,” an Israeli official told CNN earlier.

“We will continue to operate throughout Lebanon, as required, to remove the Hezbollah terror threat to our citizens,” the statement said.

Reports are emerging that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to convene the security cabinet to discuss escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.

Israel Defense Forces stated that Iran fired nearly 30 ballistic missiles at Israel, while two missiles were also launched by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.

Trump earlier called on both sides to agree to a ceasefire and “immediately stop shooting” in a post on Truth Social.

The IDF said it had completed a large-scale strike on “strategic defence systems” in Iran, while Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had targeted two Israeli air bases, according to Iranian media reports.

The Indian Embassy in Kuwait confirmed the death and said it was coordinating with local authorities to support the victim’s family.

According to Kuwait’s Health Ministry, at least 63 people were injured, including airport staff and passengers. Kuwaiti authorities reported damage to airport infrastructure and nearby diplomatic facilities during the attack. One person was killed, while several others sustained injuries.

Moreover, flight operations at Kuwait International Airport were temporarily suspended following the incident.

Kuwait’s health ministry also informed that seven people require emergency surgeries.

Terminal 1 of the airport sustained severe damage, forcing a suspension of all flight operations before services resumed from Terminal 4 after safety assessments were completed, as per the Kuwaiti News Agency KUNA.

The Kuwaiti military said it intercepted 13 ballistic missiles and 17 drones since dawn, though debris fell across several residential areas.

The attacks drew swift condemnation from across the region. Saudi Arabia strongly condemned Iranian attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait on Wednesday as a “clear violation” of international law.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry expressed its “strongest condemnation and denunciation of the brutal Iranian aggression and the blatant violation” of the sovereignty of Bahrain and Kuwait.

Reiterating its “categorical rejection” of the attacks, the ministry said the strikes constitute a “clear violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations” and undermine international efforts aimed at restoring security and stability in the region.

It renewed its solidarity with Bahrain and Kuwait and “full support” for any measures they take to safeguard their sovereignty, security and stability.

UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash called for a unified Gulf response, warning that the strikes carried broader implications.

“The aggression does not target one country alone, but all of us,” he said.

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun also condemned the strikes on civilian sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, while in Bahrain authorities reported intercepting three missiles and several drones. Iran claimed its forces had targeted the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet, an airbase, and military helicopters in the region.

US Central Command said the Iranian strikes largely failed to reach their intended targets. Washington confirmed it had carried out operations near the Strait of Hormuz, including action against a tanker heading toward Iran. The strikes Tehran condemned as violations of international law and an existing ceasefire framework dating to 8 April.

Iran’s foreign ministry warned it would “utilise all capacities to counter aggressive actions”, placing responsibility on Kuwait and Bahrain for allegedly permitting their territory to be used in operations against Iran.

Global oil prices rose more than 2% amid mounting concern over security in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route handling a significant share of the world’s oil and gas exports.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump claimed Iran had agreed not to pursue nuclear weapons and said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was involved in discussions with Washington.

Iran, however, has consistently maintained its nuclear programme is intended solely for peaceful purposes.

When President Donald Trump convened his national security team in the White House Situation Room on Friday, the expectation, set by Trump, was that he would walk out with a decision.

He had telegraphed as much on Truth Social earlier in the day, signaling that a “final determination” was at hand on a fragile, tentative agreement with Iran. Two hours later, he walked out in silence, and the world is still waiting.
No announcement was made. No agreement was confirmed. A White House official offered only a terse reassurance that Trump “will only make a deal that is good for America and satisfies his redlines” shows as much a negotiating posture as it was a statement of fact.

“No money will be exchanged, until further notice. Other items, of far less importance, have been agreed to,” President Trump, via Truth Social. It remained unclear whether he planned to sign off on the emerging agreement with Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and start nuclear talks.

The meeting, attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance among others, was focused on a proposed framework centered on two interlocking goals: reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and restarting formal negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

In his earlier post, Trump had gone further, demanding not just the reopening of the waterway but the removal of all water mines placed by Iranian forces, the destruction of all enriched nuclear material under joint oversight with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and a hard commitment that Tehran would never obtain a nuclear weapon.

Tehran, for its part, has consistently and publicly rejected the framing of any deal on Washington’s current terms. Iranian officials insist that no meaningful negotiation can begin without the release of roughly $12 billion in Iranian assets currently frozen in foreign banks.

A Foreign Ministry spokesperson made clear that no memorandum of understanding has been finalized, and perhaps more pointedly that there is no confirmation Iran’s supreme leadership has even approved the draft agreement being discussed by lower-level negotiators.

That gap between Washington’s conditions and Tehran’s preconditions has become the central impasse in what is shaping up to be one of the most consequential and complicated diplomatic standoffs of the Trump’s second term in office.

The urgency behind these negotiations is very much needed as roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, and its continued disruption has sent ripples of anxiety across global financial institutions.
The International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, and World Trade Organization jointly warned this week that a prolonged blockage could drive up fuel and fertilizer costs, deplete oil inventories, and destabilize energy markets at a particularly vulnerable moment — just as summer demand begins to climb in the northern hemisphere.

Defiant Iran’s newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority, which the United States has sanctioned, vowed this week to continue its maritime operations without interruption highlighting that Tehran will not yield on the waterway regardless of diplomatic pressure.
Even as diplomacy stalls, the United States has been tightening its economic grip on Iran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced this week that U.S. authorities had seized approximately $1 billion in Iranian cryptocurrency, framing it as part of an ongoing financial pressure campaign. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, meanwhile, was careful to stress that the U.S. military remains fully prepared to resume hostilities if talks collapse while also voicing confidence that any eventual agreement would be, in his words, a “good deal.

The Indian delegation was led by Sujit Ghosh, Joint Secretary (East Asia), and the Chinese delegation was led by Ms. Hou Yanqi, Director General of the Boundary & Oceanic Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The discussions were constructive and forward looking.

The two sides reviewed the situation in the India-China border areas. They expressed satisfaction with the progress made in maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas, which has enabled progress towards gradual normalization of bilateral relations.

The two sides discussed issues pertaining to delimitation, border management, mechanism building and cross-border cooperation.

The Indian side stressed on early meeting of the next Expert Level Mechanism on Trans-border Rivers.

Both sides agreed to maintain regular exchanges and contacts at the diplomatic and military levels through mechanisms including those that were agreed as part of outcomes of 24th Special Representative Talks.

The two sides agreed to work together to make substantive preparation for the next meeting of the Special Representatives (SR), to be held in China.

During the visit, the Indian delegation leader met Liu Jinsong, DG of Dept of Asian Affairs of Chinese MFA and made a courtesy call on Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei, a statement said.

The Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong, in posts on X, said that “Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei met with Shri Sujit Ghosh, Joint Secretary of the East Asia Division of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, in Beijing. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations, multilateral cooperation, and boundary issues.”

He said that during the 35th Meeting of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Border Affairs in Beijing, “Both sides conducted constructive dialogue in a practical and friendly atmosphere and acknowledged that border area maintained lasting peace and tranquility.

“The two sides held discussion on boundary delimitation, border management, mechanism development and cross-border communication and cooperation, and agreed to keep communication through diplomatic and miliary channels, maintain peace and tranquility in the border area and actively prepare for the 25th Round of Talks between the Special Representatives of China and India on the Boundary Question.”

Preliminary US-Iran peace agreement also envisages postponing nuclear talks until a later date, the publication said citing an unnamed Iranian official.

The preliminary framework agreement between Iran and the US has not yet been approved by the Iranian side, it noted citing an unnamed diplomat.

According to the newspaper, the parties agreed to extend ceasefire for 60 days to reach the final settlement.

The US-Iran framework agreement is “95% there,” although negotiators are still debating over the wording regarding the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s nuclear stockpile, Fox News reported citing sources.

US President Donald Trump previously stated that the deal with Iran was largely agreed upon, and the final aspects and details were being discussed and would be announced soon.

Unnamed US officials confirmed to the channel that Iran had agreed in principle to the framework.

“We are 95% there,” one official told the broadcaster. “We have a deal on the nuclear stockpile and the Strait of Hormuz but are negotiating language.”

On February 28, the US and Israel began striking targets in Iran, killing over 3,000 people. On April 8, Washington and Tehran announced a two-week ceasefire. Subsequent talks in Islamabad ended inconclusively. While no resumption of hostilities was announced, the US began a blockade of Iranian ports.

As Washington remained keen to reach a deal with the Iranians, Netanyahu favoured resuming the strikes to further degrade Iran’s military capabilities and weaken the regime by destroying its critical infrastructure. Axios, citing three sources, reported that Netanyahu’s “hair was on fire” after the call, underscoring his frustration with the US position.

The exchange followed another recent conversation between the two leaders on Sunday, during which Trump reportedly indicated he was leaning toward launching new targeted strikes on Iran early this week, CNN reported about the operation that was expected to be renamed “Operation Sledgehammer.”

However, less than a day later, Trump announced he was postponing the planned Tuesday strikes after requests from Gulf allies, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Since then, Gulf states and Pakistani mediators have been coordinating closely with the White House to create a framework for renewed diplomatic negotiations, according to US and regional sources.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday morning, Trump signaled that negotiations with Iran were approaching a critical stage.

“We’re in the final stages with Iran. We’ll see what happens,” Trump said. “We’ll either reach a deal, or we’re going to do some things that are a little unpleasant. But hopefully it won’t come to that.”

Trump’s keenness for a diplomatic deal has reportedly frustrated Netanyahu, who has consistently favoured a tougher military stance toward Tehran. Israeli officials and Trump administration sources say Netanyahu believes any delay benefits Iran and weakens pressure on the regime.

The point is that this time the US is willing to clinch a deal based on the draft plan prepared by regional mediators involving Qatar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt to bridge the differences between Washington and Tehran. This comes as Trump continues to vacillate between ordering a massive strike on Iran and holding out for a diplomatic agreement.

Netanyahu remains highly skeptical about the negotiations and wants to resume the war to further degrade Iran’s military capabilities and weaken the regime by targeting its critical infrastructure. Aware of the domestic situation, Trump, meanwhile, continues to say he believes a deal can still be reached, though he has also warned that he is prepared to resume the war if negotiations fail.

“The only question is: do we go and finish it up, or are they going to sign a document? Let’s see what happens,” Trump said on Wednesday at the Coast Guard Academy. Later the same day, he said the US and Iran were “right on the borderline” between securing a deal and resuming the war.

Trump also wants Netanyahu to remain part of the diplomatic process and avoid resuming strikes, unlike the earlier instance when Israel resumed attacks on Lebanon after the first round of talks had taken place.

Trump said Netanyahu “will do whatever I want him to do” on Iran, though he also stressed that the two shared a good relationship. While the two leaders have had temporary disagreements over Iran in the past, they have remained closely coordinated throughout the war.

Iran has confirmed that it is reviewing an updated proposal, though it has not yet shown any significant signs of flexibility.

Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt have been working over the past several days to refine the proposal and bridge the remaining gaps, according to the three sources.

According to two Arab officials and one Israeli source, Qatar recently presented both the US and Iran with a new draft. A fourth source, however, said there is no separate Qatari draft and that Doha is merely attempting to bridge the gaps from the previous Pakistani proposal.

One Arab official said the Qataris sent a delegation to Tehran earlier this week for talks with Iranian officials regarding the latest draft.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that negotiations were ongoing “based on Iran’s 14-point proposal” and confirmed that Pakistan’s interior minister was in Tehran to assist with mediation efforts. This marked the minister’s second visit in less than a week.

According to a US source briefed on the call, Trump informed Netanyahu that the mediators were working on a “letter of intent” that both the US and Iran would sign to formally end the war and begin a 30-day negotiation period on issues such as Iran’s nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by Axios.

Two Israeli sources said the two leaders disagreed over the way forward, while the US source said, “Bibi’s hair was on fire after the call.”

Rome : Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Italy has given a major boost to bilateral ties, with India and Italy finalising 15 outcomes across diverse sectors. The agreements were on Wedneday signed after delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni in Rome. The outcomes marked the elevation of bilateral relations to a Special Strategic Partnership.

Both countries signed several Memorandums of Understanding to deepen cooperation in agriculture, critical minerals, Ayurveda, science and technology, maritime transport and ports. An agreement was also signed to facilitate the mobility of Indian nurses to Italy, opening new opportunities for skilled healthcare professionals. Another key pact focuses on the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, reflecting growing cooperation in cultural and maritime heritage. India and Italy also agreed to strengthen coordination against tax crimes, money laundering and terror financing.

Following the talks, Prime Minister Modi in a joint press statement said the India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 will provide a practical and futuristic roadmap for bilateral cooperation. He said both sides are working towards establishing an India-Italy Innovation Centre and noted that the India-Italy Defence Industrial Roadmap has opened new avenues for co-development and co-production in the defence sector.

Mr Modi said India and Italy, as maritime powers, will expand cooperation in shipping, port modernisation, logistics and the blue economy. Referring to global challenges, he said both countries remain in close contact on Ukraine, West Asia and other international issues, reiterating that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only way forward. He also stressed that India and Italy are united in viewing terrorism as a serious threat to humanity and underlined the need for strong action against terror financing networks.

Highlighting economic cooperation, the Prime Minister said Italy is globally known for design and precision, while India has emerged as a hub of scale, talent and affordable innovation. He said both countries will move ahead with the vision of “Design and Develop in India and Italy and Deliver for the World.”

Italian Prime Minister Meloni said the Special Strategic Partnership reflects the growing depth of India-Italy relations based on mutual trust and shared values. She also emphasised the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific and strengthening cooperation across key sectors.

The outcomes of the visit are expected to further enhance economic engagement, innovation partnerships and people-to-people exchanges, while reinforcing cooperation on global peace, sustainable development and international security.

New Delhi:  ‎Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that a rare collection of Chola-era copper plates dating back to the 11th Century will be returned to India from the Netherlands, calling the development a proud and emotional moment for the country and an important milestone in preserving India’s civilisational heritage.
‎In a post on social media platform X during his ongoing visit to the Netherlands, Modi said he attended a special ceremony marking the repatriation of the historic artefacts in the presence of Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.
‎“A joyous moment for every Indian! Chola Copper Plates dating back to the 11th Century will be repatriated to India from the Netherlands. Took part in the ceremony for the same in the presence of Prime Minister Rob Jetten,” Modi said.
‎The Prime Minister said the collection consists of 21 large copper plates and three smaller ones, carrying inscriptions primarily in Tamil, which he described as “one of the most beautiful languages of the world”.
‎According to Modi, the inscriptions are linked to the reign of the legendary Chola emperor and record the formal implementation of a commitment originally made orally by his father. He said the artefacts stand as a testament to the Chola empire’s administrative excellence, cultural richness and maritime influence.
‎“They also showcase the greatness of the Cholas. We, in India, are immensely proud of the Cholas, their culture and their maritime prowess,” Modi said.
‎The Chola dynasty, one of the most influential empires in Indian history, ruled large parts of southern India and extended its influence into Southeast Asia between the 9th and 13th centuries. The dynasty is renowned for its monumental temple architecture, naval expeditions, efficient governance and contribution to Tamil literature and art. Historians regard Rajaraja I and Rajendra Chola I as among the most powerful rulers of the era, credited with expanding the empire’s reach across the Indian Ocean.
‎The copper plates had been housed in the Netherlands since the mid-19th Century. Modi thanked both the Dutch government and the university for facilitating their return.
‎“I thank the Government of the Netherlands and Leiden University in particular, where the Copper Plates were kept since the mid-19th century,” the Prime Minister said.
‎The return of the artefacts is part of India’s wider campaign to reclaim historically significant objects and antiquities that were removed from the country during colonial rule or smuggled abroad over the years. India has intensified diplomatic efforts in recent years to secure the repatriation of cultural treasures from museums, universities and private collections across the world.
‎Officials said the return of the Chola Copper Plates is expected to deepen cultural ties between India and the Netherlands while reinforcing global efforts towards restoring important heritage artefacts to their countries of origin.

New Delhi: Reiterating their unwavering commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, BRICS foreign ministers on Friday strongly condemned the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, and called for concerted global action to eliminate the menace of terror.
A statement released at the conclusion of the 2-day BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting hosted in New Delhi said, “The Ministers strongly condemned terrorism, describing such acts as criminal and unjustifiable irrespective of motivation, timing, location or perpetrators.”
It said, “Ministers specifically referred to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 people were killed and several others injured.”
The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border movement of terrorists, terror financing and safe havens.
“They reiterated that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group and that all those involved in terrorist activities and their support must be held accountable and brought to justice,” the statement said.
The BRICS ministers also called for “zero tolerance” against terrorism and rejected double standards in countering terror activities.
They stressed that global counter-terror efforts must comply with international law, the UN Charter, international humanitarian law and human rights obligations.
The ministers welcomed the activities of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group and its sub-groups functioning under the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Action Plan.
They also called for the expeditious finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the United Nations framework and sought concerted action against all UN-designated terrorists and terror entities.
The statement said, “The member countries failed to arrive at a consensus on the Middle East situation, preventing the issuance of a joint declaration.”
“There were differing views among some members as regard to the situation in the West Asia/Middle East region. BRICS members expressed their respective national positions and shared a range of perspectives,” it said.
On the situation in West Asia, the ministers expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis and condemned violations of international humanitarian law, including attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure and obstruction of humanitarian aid.
The statement said members highlighted the need for dialogue and diplomacy, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, protection of civilian lives and ensuring safe maritime commerce through international waterways.
The ministers also called for an immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and urged unhindered humanitarian assistance to civilians.
The BRICS grouping currently comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia