WASHINGTON: One of Indian billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani&#39;s companies will pay the United States $275 million to settle a probe into whether it violated Washington&#39;s sanctions on Iran, the US Treasury said Monday. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said the agreement had been reached with Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), part of the magnate&#39;s sprawling multinational conglomerate. &quot;AEL agreed to settle its potential civil liability for 32 apparent violations of OFAC&#39;s Iran sanctions,&quot; the Treasury said, pointing to AEL&#39;s purchases of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) between November 2023 and June 2025. Monday&#39;s announcement came days after Adani agreed to pay a separate $18 million settlement in a US civil court case linked to corruption, without admitting guilt, according to one of his other companies. In that case, Adani was accused of participating in an estimated $250 million scheme to bribe Indian officials to secure lucrative solar energy supply contracts. Monday&#39;s US settlement announcement said AEL had cooperated with OFAC&#39;s probe and agreed to additional nonmonetary remedial measures to strengthen compliance with US sanctions. The probe focused on LPG imports arranged through a Dubai-based supplier that claimed to be exporting Omani and Iraqi gas, OFAC said. &quot;Red flags should have put AEL on notice that the LPG actually originated from Iran,&quot; the statement said. Adani Enterprises confirmed the settlement in a stock exchange filing made on Monday, saying the agreement was executed on May 14. The Adani Group is one of India&#39;s largest business empires, operating businesses ranging from ports and power plants to cement factories and media houses. Adani, one of India&#39;s richest men, has been rocked in recent years by corporate fraud allegations and a stock crash. Adani is a close ally of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hails from the leader&#39;s home state of Gujarat. India is the world&#39;s second-largest buyer of LPG, and the fourth-largest buyer of liquefied natural gas, much of which is sourced through the Middle East.

Business

Taxation

Billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani's companies will pay the United States $275 million to settle a probe into whether they violated Washington's sanctions against Iran.

India's Adani to pay $275M settlement to US over alleged Iran sanctions violations

PARIS: FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom described as &quot;excellent&quot; and &quot;constructive&quot; the meeting held on Saturday in Istanbul with the Iranian federation to ensure Iran&#39;s participation in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Iranians are scheduled to be based in the US and play all three of their group matches there, despite the war currently being waged in the Middle East. &quot;We&#39;ve had an excellent meeting, a constructive meeting together with the Iran FA,&quot; said Grafstrom. &quot;I think we&#39;re working closely together and looking very much forward to welcoming them to the World Cup. &quot;We&#39;ve had the opportunity to discuss some of the operational matters, like we do with every member association. &quot;But I&#39;m very happy that we were able to have this positive exchange, and both the Iran FA and FIFA are very happy with the meeting and looking forward to welcoming Team Melli in the USA, Canada and Mexico.&quot; The president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, had said on Thursday that no visas had yet been issued for Iran&#39;s team. But he also described Saturday&#39;s meeting as &quot;positive and constructive&quot; without going into details. &quot;We discussed our concerns and expressed our joint commitment to ensure the smooth participation of Team Melli,&quot; he said. The meeting, which was held at the headquarters of the Turkish Football Federation, comes as the Iranian team prepares to leave on Monday morning for a training camp in Turkey before heading to the United States. Iran hope to play two friendlies in Antalya. They have already confirmed one match, against The Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team. Iran have qualified for their fourth consecutive finals and, when the squad reaches the US, will set up their base camp in Tucson, Arizona. They are due to kick off their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle, in Group G.

In this handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian (C-L) poses for a group photo with players of the Iranian national football team during a farewell ceremony for them before their departure for the 2026 FIFA Wo

Football

Iran hope to play two friendlies in Antalya. They have already confirmed one match, against The Gambia, on May 29.

Iran have 'constructive' meeting with FIFA over World Cup preparations

NEW DELHI: BRICS nations, including Iran and Russia, met in New Delhi on Thursday, where India warned of &quot;considerable flux&quot; in a world hit by conflict, economic uncertainty and energy insecurity. The war in Iran and the related fuel crisis are dominating discussions in the two-day gathering. India was hosting the foreign ministers from the expanded bloc that now includes Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- countries at odds over the conflict launched by the United States and Israel on February 28. &quot;We meet at a time of considerable flux in international relations,&quot; India&#39;s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in his opening speech, before closed meetings began. Among the foreign ministers attending were Iran&#39;s Abbas Araghchi and Russia&#39;s Sergei Lavrov. &quot;Ongoing conflicts, economic uncertainties, and challenges in trade, technology, and climate are shaping the global landscape,&quot; Jaishankar added, saying many countries &quot;continue to face challenges on energy, food, fertilizer, and health security&quot;. Disruptions around Gulf shipping routes and the Strait of Hormuz continue to drive volatility in oil and gas markets, increasing pressure on energy-importing economies, including India. India&#39;s foreign ministry also condemned an attack on an Indian-flagged ship off Oman on Wednesday as &quot;unacceptable&quot; -- with all sailors rescued safely by Muscat. &quot;We deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,&quot; the foreign ministry said, without giving further details of who launched the attack. Araghchi, speaking in New Delhi, insisted that the Strait of Hormuz &quot;is open for all&quot; commercial vessels that &quot;cooperate&quot; with its navy. &quot;There is no such thing as a military solution to anything related to Iran,&quot; Araghchi said. &quot;We Iranians never bow to any pressure or threat, but we reciprocate the language of respect.&quot; &#39;Volatile global environment&#39;The conflict involving Iran has added strain to India&#39;s economy, which is heavily reliant on Middle Eastern energy supplies and fertilizer imports, and has cast uncertainty over New Delhi&#39;s growth outlook. India, the world&#39;s third-largest oil buyer, normally sources about half of its crude through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that has been repeatedly blocked since the war began. Ship‑tracking and import data show that India has partially plugged the gap by turning to old allies, expanding promising ties and reviving suppliers it had not tapped in years. The biggest backstop has been Russian crude -- a fuel source New Delhi spent much of the past year trying to pivot away from under stiff US tariffs. Jaishankar met with Lavrov on Wednesday evening. &quot;Our political cooperation is even more valuable in an uncertain and volatile global environment,&quot; Jaishankar said in remarks at the meeting, adding that discussions included &quot;trade and investment, energy and connectivity&quot;. BRICS expandsBRICS was created in 2009 as a forum for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in institutions dominated by Western powers. The grouping, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has since expanded, as members sought to boost the bloc&#39;s global political and economic influence. It now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates. China&#39;s Foreign Minister Wang Yi was not attending, with US President Donald Trump in Beijing on Thursday. India will hold a leaders&#39; summit later this year, and the foreign ministers will also meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the foreign ministry said. With deep divisions among some members, including over the war in the Middle East and criticism of Western powers, it was unclear whether a joint statement would be released at the meeting&#39;s end.

Africa

Asia

Middle East

Americas

China

Ministers meet amid widening geopolitical tensions, energy shocks and trade uncertainty, with the war in Iran exposing divisions within the expanded bloc and raising doubts about a joint statement.

Iran war and oil dominate BRICS meet in India

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday termed a report by a US television channel, claiming that Islamabad &quot;quietly allowed&quot; Iranian military aircraft to park on its airfields while playing the role of a mediator in the Middle East conflict, as &quot;misleading and sensationalised.&quot; In a statement on Tuesday, Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Office said, &quot;Pakistan categorically rejects the CBS News report regarding the presence of Iranian aircraft at Nur Khan Airbase as misleading and sensationalised. Such speculative narratives appear aimed at undermining ongoing efforts for regional stability and peace.&quot; The statement further said, &quot;Following the ceasefire and during the initial round of the Islamabad Talks, several aircraft from Iran and the US arrived in Pakistan to facilitate the movement of diplomatic personnel, security teams and administrative staff associated with the talks process.&quot; &quot;Among the military hardware was an Iranian Air Force RC-130, a reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules tactical transport aircraft,&quot; the report added. Citing US officials, American TV channel CBS News had alleged that days after US President Trump announced the ceasefire with Iran in early April, Tehran sent multiple aircraft to the Nur Khan Air Base. The foreign office statement further said that some aircraft and support personnel remained temporarily in Pakistan in &quot;anticipation of subsequent rounds of engagement.&quot; &ldquo;Although formal negotiations have not yet resumed, senior-level diplomatic exchanges have continued. In this context, visits by the Iranian foreign minister to Islamabad were facilitated through the existing logistical and administrative arrangements,&quot; it said. &ldquo;The Iranian aircraft currently parked in Pakistan arrived during the ceasefire period and bears no linkage whatsoever to any military contingency or preservation arrangement. Assertions suggesting otherwise are speculative, misleading, and entirely detached from the factual context,&quot; the foreign office asserted. The statement added, &quot;Pakistan has consistently acted as an impartial, constructive, and responsible facilitator in support of dialogue and de-escalation. In line with this role, Pakistan has extended routine logistical and administrative support where required, while maintaining full transparency and regular communication with all relevant parties.&quot; &quot;Pakistan remains committed to supporting all sincere efforts aimed at promoting dialogue, reducing tensions, and advancing regional and global peace, stability, and security,&quot; it said.

Security

Pakistan rejects a US media report about Iranian military aircraft at Nur Khan Airbase, calling it misleading, and said the aircraft supported diplomatic and logistical arrangements linked to ceasefire talks.

Pakistan rejects report on Iranian military aircraft as ‘misleading’

TEHRAN: Iran&#39;s football federation on Saturday said that the men&#39;s national team will take part in the 2026 World Cup this summer, but demanded that joint hosts, the United States, Mexico, and Canada agree to its conditions amid the Middle East war. The call comes after Canada refused entry to the federation&#39;s chief last month before the FIFA Congress because of his links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iran&#39;s presence at the tournament, which will take place between June 11 and July 19, has been shrouded in uncertainty since the eruption of war in the Middle East in February following strikes by the United States and Israel. &quot;We will definitely participate in the 2026 World Cup, but the hosts must take our concerns into account,&quot; the Iranian federation said on its official website. &quot;We will participate in the World Cup tournament, but without any retreat from our beliefs, culture, and convictions.&quot; The Iranian football federation (FFIRI) president, Mehdi Taj, told state TV on Friday that Tehran has 10 conditions for attending the global spectacle, seeking assurances over the country&#39;s treatment. The conditions include visas being granted and respect for the national team staff, the team&#39;s flag and its national anthem during the tournament, as well as demands for high security at airports, hotels, and routes to the stadiums where they will play. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has insisted that Iran&#39;s footballers would be welcome at the tournament. But he warned that the US may yet bar entry to members of the Iranian delegation with ties to the IRGC, which it also designates as a terrorist organization. &quot;All players and technical staff, especially those who have served their military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or IRGC, such as Mehdi Taremi and Ehsan Hajsafi, should be granted visas without any problems,&quot; said Iranian football chief Taj. FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has reiterated that Iran will play their World Cup games in the United States as scheduled. Iran, who are due to be based in Tucson, Arizona, during the World Cup, face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group G. The Iranians open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. &quot;No external power can deprive Iran of its participation in a cup to which it has qualified with merit,&quot; the Iranian federation said on Saturday.

Workers install the pitch at New York New Jersey Stadium ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on May 7, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

The call comes after Canada refused entry to the federation's chief last month before the FIFA Congress because of his links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); Conditions include visas being granted and respect for the national team staff, the team's flag and its national anthem during the tournament, as well as demands for high security at airports, hotels, and routes to the stadiums.

Iran says will play in World Cup, demands hosts accept conditions

BEIRUT: More than half of Lebanon&#39;s population depends on humanitarian aid, a European Union official said on Friday, as Israel continues its attacks on the country despite a ceasefire in the two-month-long war with militant group Hezbollah. &quot;At present, more than three million people, meaning more than half of the population here in Lebanon, depend on humanitarian aid to survive,&quot; EU crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib told reporters after meeting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut. Lahbib said that since the start of the war on March 2 the 27-member bloc has provided 100 million euros in aid and sent six planes carrying humanitarian aid, with a seventh expected on Saturday. Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed more than 2,700 people and displaced over one million since early March, according to authorities. The UN launched an emergency appeal in March for $308 million in humanitarian aid for Lebanon, but in two months it has raised just $126 million, according to UN agencies. Lahbib, who said that the ceasefire has opened &quot;a narrow window of hope&quot;, called for Hezbollah &quot;to cease its attacks and be disarmed&quot; and said that &quot;Israel must put an end to its bombardments&quot;. &quot;For a ceasefire to lead to peace, courage is needed -- political courage to address the root causes of this conflict.&quot; Israel and Lebanon are set to hold a third round of talks in Washington next week to end the war, despite Hezbollah&#39;s opposition to direct negotiations.

More than half of Lebanon’s population depends on humanitarian aid, the EU said, as Israeli strikes continue despite a ceasefire and Washington talks seek to end the war.

More than half of Lebanon population depends on aid: EU official

BEIJING: China&#39;s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing would play a &quot;greater role&quot; in ending hostilities in the Middle East during talks with his Iranian counterpart on Wednesday, a week before US President Donald Trump is due to meet Xi Jinping. China is a key customer for Iranian oil, defying sanctions imposed by the United States, and is directly affected by the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz bordered by Iran. Beijing has quietly engaged in efforts to resolve the weekslong crisis, and its diplomacy is credited with playing an important role in the fragile ceasefire agreed between Washington and Tehran. China &quot;will work harder to ease tensions and end the fighting, continue to support the launch of peace talks, and play a greater role in restoring peace and tranquility to the Middle East&quot;, Wang told Iran&#39;s Abbas Araghchi in Beijing. &quot;China considers that a complete cessation of fighting must be achieved without delay, that it is even more unacceptable to restart hostilities, and that continuing to negotiate remains essential,&quot; Wang said, according to a statement from his ministry after the talks. Manufacturing giant China has been comparatively sheltered from fuel shortages thanks to oil reserves and renewable energy, but costs of oil-derived materials like plastic and fabric have risen significantly. More than half of the crude imported by sea to China comes from the Middle East and mainly transits through the Hormuz strait, according to maritime analytics firm Kpler. Analysts have warned that the war&#39;s impact on China will be felt for months. During Wednesday&#39;s talks, Wang said China hopes &quot;the parties concerned will respond as quickly as possible to the urgent call of the international community&quot; for a resumption of normal and safe maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump trip loomsThe Wang-Araghchi talks came as Trump said the US would pause escorting commercial ships through the Hormuz Strait -- which drew Iranian attacks -- barely a day after it began doing so. Trump cited a desire to reach a peace deal with Iran. Washington demands tight controls on Tehran&#39;s nuclear programme, which Iran has refused to agree to and has led to talks crumbling. &quot;On the nuclear issue, China welcomes Iran&#39;s commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, while considering that Iran has the legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy,&quot; Wang said. The US leader is expected to meet Chinese President Xi in Beijing on a visit the White House said will take place May 14-15. Beijing has not confirmed those dates. A foreign ministry spokesman again refused to share details when asked about Trump&#39;s visit at a regular news conference on Wednesday. Trump would join rulers from the Gulf, Europe and Southeast Asia that have recently landed face time with Xi, who has sought to position China as a stable partner in the face of the US- and Israeli-led conflict. Trump&#39;s visit would also come more than a year after his sweeping global tariffs wreaked havoc on the supply chain, causing chaos in China&#39;s manufacturing sector.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds talks with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Beijing on May 06, 2026. (Photo: IRNA)

China is a key customer for Iranian oil, defying sanctions imposed by the United States, and is directly affected by the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz bordered by Iran.

China says will play 'greater role' in ending Mideast fighting

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia has expressed concern over rising military tensions in the region, calling for de-escalation, restraint, and support for Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic efforts to achieve a political solution.&nbsp;In an official statement, the Kingdom warned that continued escalation could push the region toward further instability, stressing that such a scenario would not serve the interests of regional or global peace. It underscored the importance of dialogue and supported Pakistan&rsquo;s mediation role in defusing tensions.&nbsp;Saudi Arabia also highlighted the need to restore normal maritime activity in the Strait of Hormuz, urging the international community to ensure safe and unrestricted passage of vessels to safeguard global trade routes. <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: 873px; 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=2051590497739665606&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=2d04233a2166bf1bd07dbae69b0b0ad230b8a510&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The development comes as Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned recent missile and drone attacks targeting civilian infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates.&nbsp;In a statement, Sharif expressed full solidarity with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Emirati people, reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s support during what he described as a difficult time.<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-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 345px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2051560804416360773&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=2d04233a2166bf1bd07dbae69b0b0ad230b8a510&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&ldquo;It is absolutely essential that the ceasefire be maintained to create diplomatic space for dialogue,&rdquo; the prime minister said, emphasizing that peaceful engagement remains key to achieving lasting regional stability.&nbsp;In a statement, Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the missile and drone attacks carried out against the UAE.&nbsp;He further added that Pakistan stands with the people of UAE and express full solidarity with the UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UAE foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.&nbsp;<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" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" 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=2051718385432764744&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=1d9cce6f127584c2d18b071423411fc9278ec03c&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2051718385432764744">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>FM Dar reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to continue efforts for lasting peace and stability in the region and beyond. The coordinated calls from Riyadh and Islamabad reflect growing international concern over escalating tensions, with both sides urging restraint and renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent further deterioration.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar receives Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 06, 2026. (File photo: MOFA) 

The statement comes as Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned recent missile and drone attacks targeting civilian infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates.

Saudi Arabia backs Pakistan mediation, calls for restraint

ISLAMABAD: US guided-missile destroyers have passed through the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Gulf as part of a new mission to restore maritime traffic in the vital waterway, the US military said on Monday. The warships &quot;are currently operating in the Arabian Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in support of Project Freedom,&quot; US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X, referring to the operation announced by President Donald Trump on Sunday. <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" 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=2051457708780372215&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=004d909a875dd5949f6b715c7e4286803f2c0494&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 678px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&quot;American forces are actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping,&quot; the command said, adding that two US-flagged merchant vessels had also successfully crossed the strait and were continuing their journeys, AFP reported. US defense officials told CBS News that both the destroyers, USS Truxtun and USS Mason, faced a &quot;sustained barrage&quot; of small boats, missiles, and drones launched by Iran. The ships, backed by fighter aircraft and Apache helicopters, intercepted or deterred all threats, with no damage reported, CBS reported.&nbsp; Officials said none of the projectiles launched reached the vessels, and US Central Command added that no American warships had been struck. Iran denies accountIran&#39;s Revolutionary Guards denied that any commercial ships had crossed the Strait of Hormuz &quot;No commercial vessels or oil tankers have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past few hours, and the claims of American officials are baseless and completely false,&quot; the Guards said in a statement on Telegram. The commander of Iran&#39;s army, Amir Hatami, meanwhile, said on X: &quot;American destroyers, using the trick of turning off the radar, were approaching the Strait of Hormuz, but our response was fire.&quot; Iran&rsquo;s State media, Tasnim News Agency, reported that Iranian naval forces fired warning shots near US destroyers after they approached the strait, accusing them of violating the ceasefire. It said the navy had identified US destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz and fired multiple warning shots, adding, &quot;following the Zionist American destroyers&#39; disregard for the initial warning, the Navy issued a warning shot by firing cruise missiles, rockets, and combat drones around the aggressor enemy vessels&quot;.

US Air Force F-16 fighter aircrafts among more than 100 land and sea-based aircraft supporting Project Freedom (Photo: X@CENTCOM).

US says destroyers crossed Hormuz after repelling Iranian “barrage,” entering the Gulf safely; Tehran denies account and says its forces fired warning shots near the vessels. 

US says warships crossed Hormuz, Iran disputes account

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar intensified diplomatic outreach on Wednesday, reaffirming Islamabad&rsquo;s commitment to dialogue and engagement as efforts continue to sustain momentum from Iran-related negotiations hosted in Pakistan. In a call with UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Dar discussed the evolving regional situation and reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to &ldquo;promoting dialogue, diplomacy and constructive engagement&rdquo; between the parties, according to a statement from Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office. The outreach comes amid continued diplomatic activity following Pakistan-facilitated Iran-US talks earlier this month, which followed a fragile ceasefire after weeks of conflict that disrupted energy routes, unsettled oil markets and raised concerns of broader regional escalation. According to the Foreign Office, Cooper appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;sustained efforts for peace and stability in the region&rdquo; and its continued engagement in support of diplomacy. Islamabad has since maintained active contacts with regional and international partners to build consensus for continued negotiations. Separately, Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki met Dar to discuss recent regional developments. Dar stressed the importance of dialogue for peace and stability and thanked Saudi Arabia for its support and appreciation of Pakistan&rsquo;s peace efforts. The Foreign Office said both sides reaffirmed the &ldquo;enduring and fraternal relationship&rdquo; between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, underscoring Islamabad&rsquo;s broader regional diplomacy as it continues efforts to support a negotiated path toward lasting peace.

Foreign Affairs

Ishaq Dar steps up diplomatic outreach, engaging the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia to support dialogue and sustain momentum in Iran-related negotiations.

Articles tagged with "Iran"