All posts tagged: Steve Witkoff

US and Iran agree to Friday talks in Oman but still at odds over agenda | World News

US and Iran agree to Friday talks in Oman but still at odds over agenda | World News

Iran says the only issue up for discussion is proof that its nuclear programme has no military purpose. (File Photo) Talks between the United States and Iran that were close to collapse will now go ahead in Oman on Friday, after a late change of plan and pressure from Arab states, The Guardian reported. The discussions were first set to take place in Turkey, but Iran asked for them to be moved to Oman and limited to nuclear issues only. The US initially rejected this, raising fears the talks would be cancelled. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said late on Wednesday that the meeting would take place in Muscat. “Nuclear talks with the United States are scheduled to be held in Muscat on about 10am Friday,” he wrote, thanking Oman for organising the meeting. US officials also confirmed the talks would proceed. They come at a time of high tension, with the US increasing its military presence in the region and warning Iran of possible action if diplomacy fails. Earlier on Wednesday, the talks appeared …

US-Iran tensions: Iran ready for talks with US on nuclear deal, says foreign minister | World News

US-Iran tensions: Iran ready for talks with US on nuclear deal, says foreign minister | World News

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks to journalists during a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo: AP) Iran’s foreign minister has said Tehran is ready to begin talks with the United States on its nuclear programme, as reports suggest senior officials from both sides could meet in Istanbul later this week. Abbas Araghchi said negotiations could start soon, even as US military forces continue to build up in the region. US President Donald Trump said over the weekend that Iran was “seriously talking” to Washington, raising hopes of a deal that could prevent military action. ‘Iran has always been ready for diplomacy’ Speaking during a visit to the shrine of Iran’s founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Araghchi said Iran had long supported talks if they were based on respect. “Iran’s enemies are talking about diplomacy today, even though Iran has always been ready for this option, provided there is mutual respect and consideration of interests,” he said. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian had ordered …

‘It’s all about the land’: Zelenskyy says Ukraine to hold talks with US and Russia | World News

‘It’s all about the land’: Zelenskyy says Ukraine to hold talks with US and Russia | World News

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine will take part in talks with the United States and Russia in the United Arab Emirates to discuss an end to the war, saying the main unresolved issue is territory. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Zelenskyy said the planned discussions would involve all three countries and would focus on the future of eastern Ukraine. “It’s all about the land. This is the issue which is not solved yet,” he told reporters. The talks come after Zelenskyy met US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the forum. Trump said the meeting was “good” as diplomatic efforts appeared to gather pace. At the same time, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff travelled to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Witkoff said he was hopeful about reaching an agreement. Story continues below this ad “I think we’ve got it down to one issue and we have discussed iterations of that issue, and that means it’s solvable,” he said before leaving Davos. Witkoff did not give …

Donald Trump names Marco Rubio, Tony Blair and Jared Kushner to Gaza oversight board | World News

Donald Trump names Marco Rubio, Tony Blair and Jared Kushner to Gaza oversight board | World News

A tent camp for displaced Palestinians stretches across the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City. (Photo: AP) The White House has announced the members of a new international body that will oversee the temporary governance of Gaza under a plan put forward by the US President Donald Trump. According to a White House statement, the “Board of Peace” will include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British prime minister Tony Blair and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Trump will chair the board under the plan unveiled late last year. Reuters said Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas agreed in October to Trump’s proposal, which came alongside a ceasefire that remains fragile. The plan outlines a transitional period in which Gaza would be run by a Palestinian technocratic body, overseen by the international board. Makeshift tents shelter displaced Palestinians stand among buildings destroyed by Israeli air and ground operations in Gaza City. (Photo: AP) Other members named by the White House include billionaire investor Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga and …

US envoy Witkoff calls Ukraine, Russia talks productive | World News

US envoy Witkoff calls Ukraine, Russia talks productive | World News

Talks held between US, European and Ukrainian officials over the last three days in Florida aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine focused on aligning positions, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday, calling those meetings and separate talks with Russian negotiators productive. US President Donald Trump has been pressuring Ukraine and Russia to come to an agreement on ending the nearly four-year-old conflict as soon as possible, but Russia wants to keep the Ukrainian ‍areas it ⁠has seized and Kyiv has refused to cede ground. After meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev on Saturday, Witkoff and Trump adviser Jared Kushner met on Sunday with officials from Ukraine and Europe, and then separately with the Ukrainian delegation, led by senior official Rustem Umerov. Witkoff, in a social media post, called Sunday’s talks “productive and constructive” and focused on a “shared strategic approach between Ukraine, ​the United States and Europe. “In a separate X post that used ‌some of the same language, Witkoff said his talks with Dmitriev were also “productive and …

Putin’s talks with U.S. envoy Witkoff, Kushner conclude, the Kremin says

Putin’s talks with U.S. envoy Witkoff, Kushner conclude, the Kremin says

Russian President Vladimir Putin and foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov attend a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on December 2, 2025. Photo: Pool vis Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner in the Kremlin has concluded, the Kremlin press service said. The talks on a possible way to end the deadliest European conflict since World War Two stretched for nearly five hours. State news agency RIA said that Witkoff went to the U.S. embassy in Moscow after the talks. Published – December 03, 2025 03:56 am IST Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please visit the following link: Source link

The ICJ has ruled that Israel let aid into Gaza. Now, world must ensure Tel Aviv upholds the law

The ICJ has ruled that Israel let aid into Gaza. Now, world must ensure Tel Aviv upholds the law

November 11, 2025 11:25 AM IST First published on: Nov 11, 2025 at 11:25 AM IST In a stark indictment of Israel’s use of starvation as a weapon of war, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in an advisory opinion adopted on October 22 with near unanimity, ruled that Israel must lift its restrictions on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and ensure the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid. In the face of political failure, the Court underscored that Israel has an unambiguous obligation not to impede aid to the point of threatening civilian survival through starvation — a method of warfare expressly prohibited under international humanitarian law and amounting to a war crime, a crime against humanity, and an act of genocide. As Gaza continues to suffer a deepening humanitarian catastrophe, with its population trapped between the relentless bombardment and man-made famine that have defined Israel’s military campaign launched after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, the ICJ’s opinion is crucial and carries profound legal and political significance.

Putin Says Russia Ready To Resume Talks With Ukraine “Without Preconditions”

Putin Says Russia Ready To Resume Talks With Ukraine “Without Preconditions”

Quick Take Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Russian President Putin told US envoy Witkoff that Russia is open to unconditional talks with Ukraine, as Trump suggests different approaches to deal with Putin amid ongoing conflict and failed negotiations for peace. Russian President Vladimir Putin told US envoy Steve Witkoff that Russia is ready to hold talks with Ukraine “without preconditions”, the Kremlin said on Saturday. “During yesterday’s talks with Trump’s envoy Witkoff, Vladimir Putin reiterated that Russia is ready to resume negotiations with Ukraine without any preconditions,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who also added that Putin has repeated the same several times. This comes in the midst of US President Donald Trump’s talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in Rome, at the funeral of Pope Francis.  In a post on Truth Social after his talks with Zelensky, Trump also said maybe Putin “has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’” He posted on his social media platform he said, “…there was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into …

Iran Close To Having A Nuclear Bomb, Says UN Body Chief, Heads To Tehran

Iran Close To Having A Nuclear Bomb, Says UN Body Chief, Heads To Tehran

Iran is dangerously close to developing an atomic weapon, warned the International Atomic Energy Agency, hours before the UN watchdog’s chief is expected to leave for Tehran. During his visit, the top nuclear body chief will hold talks with Iranian government officials over recent developments in its top secret nuclear programme. Rafael Grossi, who heads the IAEA, likened the development of a nuclear weapon to that of solving a jigsaw puzzle. “Iran has all the pieces now, and could well put them together eventually,” he said. Speaking about Tehran’s nuclear weapons ambition, Mr Grossi told French newspaper Le Monde that “Iran is not too far from having an atomic bomb”. IAEA, which is an autonomous UN body, is currently tasked with overseeing Iran’s compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal that fell apart after Donald Trump withdrew from it during his first term as US President. At the time President Trump had called it a “bad deal”. ‘RADICALS CANNOT HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS’ He now wants to completely rid Iran of its military nuclear programme. Just this …

Iran says US’s desire for nuclear deal in ‘shortest time possible won’t be easy’ | World News

Iran says US’s desire for nuclear deal in ‘shortest time possible won’t be easy’ | World News

Iran on Saturday said the first formal talks with the United States over its nuclear program were ” constructive ” and that the two sides would meet again next week, April 19. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meets with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi in Muscat, Oman, April 12, 2025.(REUTERS) Iranian foreign ministry said the two sides discussed Iran’s nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions “in a constructive atmosphere and with mutual respect.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iranian state television that the first meeting was “constructive” and “held in a calm and highly respectful environment; no inappropriate language was used.” The minister added that both sides were committed to pursuing a “desirable agreement from a position of equality.” “Neither side wants fruitless, protracted, or time-wasting negotiations. The American side also said their preference is for an agreement to be reached in the shortest time possible, but it won’t be easy,” Reuters quoted Araghchi as saying. US says talks were ‘very positive’ A statement from the White House said the talks were …