Hope for a limited US-Iran agreement gained momentum Friday as regional mediators intensified efforts to stabilize the ceasefire, but the fragile diplomacy faced hostility from Iranian hardliners who cast negotiations as a prelude to renewed conflict.
States unable to agree on nuclear nonproliferation goals at UN conference UN member states failed to reach an agreement after four weeks of negotiations on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament goals, according to the diplomat leading the talks. Do Hung Viet, president of the conference, told reporters in New York that despite extensive efforts, participants were unable to achieve consensus on a final substantive document. Negotiators had been reviewing the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, under which 191 countries agreed to limit recognised nuclear weapons states to China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Tehran [Iran], May 23 (ANI): Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told AntOnio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, that Washington's 'excessive demands' are the main obstacle to ongoing peace negotiations, Al Jazeera reported.
Washington DC [US], May 23 (ANI): US Vice President JD Vance on Friday (local time) lauded Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, calling her a patriot following her resignation. Vance expressed condolences and wished her husband well after he was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. In a post on X, he said, 'Tulsi is a patriot, a great asset to the administration, and a dear friend.
Washington DC [US], May 23 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) shared a bizarre image of himself overlooking Greenland amid tensions with the nation. Trump captioned the image, 'Hello, Greenland! ' This comes after Louisiana's Attorney General and US Special Envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry's, visit to the nation.
Washington DC [US], May 23 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) shared a bizarre image of himself overlooking Greenland amid tensions with the nation. Trump captioned the image, 'Hello, Greenland! ' This comes after Louisiana's Attorney General and US Special Envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry's, visit to the nation.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia back de-escalation efforts in Iran-US negotiations Qatari Prime Minister and foreign minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani held discussions with the foreign ministers of Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Jordan on ongoing Pakistan-led mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, according to Qatar’s foreign ministry. In a summary of Sheikh Mohammed’s call with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Al Jazeera reported that both sides stressed the importance of resolving regional crises through peaceful dialogue and coordinating diplomatic efforts to support de-escalation. The talks come as a Qatari delegation remains in Tehran to support the mediation initiative.
The US president said he must remain at the White House due to "circumstances pertaining to Government" US President Donald Trump has abruptly canceled plans to attend his son Donald Trump Jr.
Excessive US demands hindering peace talks, Iran tells UN chief Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that Washington’s “excessive demands” remain the main obstacle to ongoing peace negotiations, Tasnim news reported. Araghchi, in a phone call with Guterres, said the United States had repeatedly undermined diplomacy through broken promises, contradictory positions and military actions, but added that Iran was continuing to engage seriously in Pakistan-mediated talks. Guterres rejected the use of force against any country’s sovereignty and called for diplomacy to help restore regional stability, the report said.
Yerevan [Armenia], May 23 (ANI): The resignation of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) saw reactions from several US leaders, but it drew praise from an unlikely source: Iran. Iranian Embassy in Armenia on Saturday lauded Gabbard for speaking the 'truth' about Iran that US President Donald Trump was uncomfortable with.
Washington DC [US], May 23 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) said that he will be missing his son Donald Trump Jr's wedding owing to oozing twists and turns in the international community.
Nine nations condemn Israeli settlement expansion in West Bank The Palestinian Authority presidency welcomed a joint statement by nine Western countries condemning Israel’s settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, describing it as “an important step in the right direction”. The statement specifically warned against the controversial E1 project, which would link the illegal Maale Adumim settlement to Jerusalem. Palestinian officials urged countries to follow their criticism with concrete measures to pressure Israel into halting settlement expansion and other policies in the occupied territory.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Talks and consultations on the points of disagreement are still underway, a source close to the Iranian negotiating team told Tasnim.
Iran says ending war and lifting US blockade are priorities in talks An Iranian official has told Al Jazeera that Tehran’s priorities in ongoing peace talks remain ending the war, lifting the US blockade and securing stability in the Strait of Hormuz. “Ending the war, lifting the US blockade, and ensuring the stability of the Strait of Hormuz are priorities,” the official said. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said Tehran views economic relief as central to any deal, not a secondary issue.
Washington DC [US], May 23 (ANI): Iran's Consulate General in Mazar-e-Sharif announced that Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei highlighted fundamental disagreements between both sides and reiterated the same position of the 14-point plan it provided to the US earlier.
Trump skips son’s wedding over ‘Iran and other things’ Trump says he will miss his eldest son’s wedding this weekend, citing Iran and other government business as Washington remains locked in talks to end the war with Tehran. Donald Trump Jr. is due to marry Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson on a small island in the Bahamas, CNN reported, citing two people familiar with the plans.
Helsingborg [Sweden], May 22 (ANI): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that he engaged in consultations with NATO allies regarding potential contingencies associated with restoring navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Palestine welcomes pressure by nine counties on Israel over illegal settlements Palestine has welcomed international moves against Israel’s illegal settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian presidency said a statement by nine countries condemning Israel’s plans to expand settlements was “an important step in the right direction”. The response came as lawmakers in the Netherlands backed a government measure to ban the import and sale of products from illegal Israeli settlements.
Tulsi Gabbard's resignation as director of national intelligence, removes sidelined Iran war sceptic Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 05/22/2026 - 19:26 The former Democratic congresswoman and presidential candidate said she was resigning due to her husband's rare bone cancer Tulsi Gabbard speaks at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's Road to Majority' conference in Washington, DC, on 21 June 2024 (Anna Moneymaker/Getty images via AFP) Off Tulsi Gabbard is set to resign in June as US director of national intelligence, citing her husband’s diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer, according to a letter she shared on Friday on X. "I am deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me and for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence,” Gabbard wrote in a letter addressed to US President Donald Trump. “My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer.
Tulsi Gabbard resigns as US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard is stepping down as the US director of national intelligence, according to a letter she shared on Friday on X. In her resignation letter, addressed to US President Donald Trump, Gabbard said she is “deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me” and for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the past year and a half. “Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026,” she wrote, saying her husband, Abraham, has been diagnosed with “an extremely rare form of bone cancer.
