Tehran [Iran], July 2 (ANI): Direct diplomatic discussions in the Qatari capital have centred on the release of a portion of Iran's initially frozen US$6 billion in assets, alongside serious accusations from Tehran regarding American violations of a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), according to IRNA.
Qatari official says 'positive progress' made on US-Iran MoU Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson says "positive progress" was made on issues related to the memorandum of understanding following a separate meeting between Qatari and Pakistani mediators and the US and Iranian delegations in Doha. "The parties agreed to continue discussions over the coming period, with the next meeting to be scheduled at the earliest possible time following the funeral processions of the former Iranian Supreme Leader," the official said in a post on X.
Doha [Qatar], July 2 (ANI): Qatar and Pakistan have concluded separate meetings with US and Iranian negotiators in Doha, with 'positive progress' reported on issues related to the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), according to Qatar's foreign ministry official spokesperson.
Airlines restore some Middle East flights as suspensions continue Some airlines are restoring flights to parts of the Middle East as diplomatic efforts to end the war on Iran gather pace, though many carriers have kept suspensions in place. Air Canada has cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and Dubai until 24 October. Air France has suspended flights to Tel Aviv until 2 July, Dubai until 5 July and Beirut until 9 July.
Tehran [Iran], July 2 (ANI): Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that Iran will not allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to access bombed nuclear sites, saying the restriction is mandated by a law passed by parliament and the Supreme National Security Council.
Hormuz shipping may take months to return to normal, French shipping company says French shipping company CMA CGM hopes the shipping situation in the Strait of Hormuz will improve in the coming days, but expects a return to normal to take several months, its chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saade told French business daily Les Echos. Saade said the group has had several vessels stuck inside the Gulf since the US-Israeli war on Iran began at the end of February. In peacetime, about 20 percent of the world's oil passes through the strategic waterway.
Virginia [US], July 2 (ANI): US Vice President JD Vance said that negotiations with Iran in Doha, Qatar, are progressing positively, with technical-level discussions underway and talks on the nuclear issue set to begin soon, as per CNN. Speaking to CNN on Wednesday (local time) after remarks to US service members in Virginia, Vance said, 'It's still pretty early, but talks are going well.
Oil prices fall as US leaders strike positive note on Iran talks Oil prices dropped by more than 1 percent as markets reacted to positive comments from US leaders on talks between Washington and Tehran. Brent futures fell $1. 38, or 1.
Iranian parliament speaker says IAEA barred from bombed nuclear sites Iranian parliament speaker and negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says inspections of nuclear sites that have been bombed and damaged are "not allowed under any circumstances". Speaking to Iran's Student News Network, Ghalibaf said the International Atomic Energy Agency has only been granted access to two sites in Iran, including the Bushehr power plant. "The access is only to this extent and we are committed to it," he said.
Manama [Bahrain], July 2 (ANI): The US Navy is searching for a missing crew member after an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the USS George HW Bush (CVN 77) made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea, the US Naval Forces Central Command, also called the US 5th Fleet, said. In a post on X, the US 5th Fleet said, 'On July 1 at 3:30 a. m.
CENTCOM leads regional security dialogue with Middle East military officials US Central Command has led a "security dialogue" alongside Bahrain's defence forces with military officials from across the Middle East. Representatives from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen discussed "enhancing defence collaboration across the region", CENTCOM said in a post on X. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said the discussions "underscored our shared commitment to regional security and stability".
RSF committed crimes against humanity in Sudan's el-Fasher, Amnesty says Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 07/01/2026 - 19:47 Children were deliberately recruited, raped, and killed, the report said, confirming findings by other organisations Displaced Sudanese who escaped el-Fasher sit in the shade at the Rwanda camp reception point, in Tawila, Sudan, on 17 December 2025 (STR/AFP) Off Amnesty International has concluded that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan have committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing in North Darfur state's el-Fasher, a report released on Wednesday showed. The findings support mounting evidence from the past year that the RSF carried out widespread atrocities in its 18-month siege of el-Fasher, based on an analysis of images and videos by Middle East Eye. Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary general, called the findings of the new report "a stain on the conscience of humanity".
TEHRAN, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi on Wednesday announced the conclusion of talks in Qatar on the implementation of a peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States.
Israeli army detonates large explosion in southern Lebanon The Israeli army has detonated a large explosion near the town of Rashaf, in southern Lebanon's Bint Jbeil district, according to Lebanon's National News Agency. NNA also reported a bombing in Beit Yahoun, also located in Bint Jbeil.
Iranian deputy foreign minister says channel to be set up for MoU breaches Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi says a communication channel will be established to report and discuss breaches of the memorandum of understanding reached between the US and Iran, according to the official IRNA news agency. Following a meeting with Qatari mediators, Gharibabadi also said that part of the $6bn in frozen Iranian assets would be used to purchase goods needed by Tehran.
Spanish government ‘quietly bans’ use of Palantir over national security concerns The Spanish government has moved to ban the US surveillance firm Palantir amid fears that national security information could be leaked, according to the Spanish publication El Confidencial. Board members of several publicly listed companies told the paper they have been ordered to avoid signing any contracts with the data firm due to threats to national sovereignty, although the Spanish government has not issued any official announcement about the ban. Palantir, the controversial AI company owned by US billionaire Peter Thiel, accused of facilitating genocide in Palestine, holds £670m in contracts with the British civil and defence industries, including the NHS.
Gaza interim administration says talks in Cyprus ‘highly productive’ The Palestinian technocratic body tasked with provisionally administering the occupied Gaza Strip said on Wednesday that it had concluded two days of “highly productive” talks in Cyprus. The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (Ncag) said in a statement to X that it conducted “a series of working meetings in Cyprus with experts and advisers of the Board of Peace, the Office of the High Representative for Gaza, and the Tony Blair Institute”, focusing on efforts to “relieve the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza”. “We reviewed plans for reconstruction, security, and governance, and we finalised the institutional arrangements that will ensure the transparency and accountability required by international donors,” the statement added.
Israeli Knesset passes bill limiting mosque loudspeakers The Knesset on Wednesday passed its preliminary reading of a bill, put forward by the far-right party Otzma Yehudit, that would limit mosque loudspeakers. According to Israeli media, “Mosques and other houses of worship would be barred from installing or operating a public address system without a permit. Police would be granted authority to enter premises where a violation is suspected in order to halt the use of the system, and in cases of continued violation, to confiscate the equipment entirely.
DOHA/DUBAI: Senior U. S. officials who arrived in Doha will not have a high-level meeting with Iran, a Qatari official said on June 30.
Lebanon’s president defends Lebanon-Israel framework agreement Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has pushed back against criticism of the country’s ceasefire framework with Israel signed last week in Washington after Hezbollah supporters took to the streets in protest of the agreement. “Lebanon’s problem is with Israel, and it is a sovereign state that decided to negotiate on its own behalf,” Aoun is reported as saying by Lebanon's National News Agency, adding that “it has not relinquished its legal, political or field principles in the framework agreement, as some are claiming. ” The framework was criticised by Hezbollah for not making the withdrawal of Israel troops from occupying southern Lebanon contingent on the disarmament of Hezbollah.
