Pakistan's foreign minister to meet Rubio in Washington on Friday Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is set to visit Washington on Friday to meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Islamabad continues to mediate peace negotiations between the US and Iran, despite the shakey ceasefire.
Iran’s president reiterates Tehran not seeking nuclear weapons Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has repeated that Iran is not seeking to develop nuclear weapons while accusing Israel of fuelling instability in the region. In comments reported by the state-linked ISNA news agency, Pezeshkian also appeared to refer to ongoing negotiations with the US, saying: “We do not engage in diplomacy with humiliation. ” “If we stand against the strongest power in the world, we must accept the hardships, we cannot fight and expect the process to be as normal as before,” he added.
Qatar emir and Trump discuss diplomacy and Iran talks Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed regional developments in a phone call with US President Donald Trump, according to a statement from the Qatari leader’s office. Sheikh Tamim stressed the importance of prioritising diplomacy and dialogue among all parties to prevent further escalation in the Middle East, the statement said. Trump expressed appreciation for Qatar’s support of Pakistani mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran, praising Doha’s role in “bridging differences and promoting de-escalation in the region”, according to the readout.
Bessent says US and Iran still ‘going back and forth’ in talks US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington and Tehran are still “going back and forth” in negotiations, but declined to directly address the current state of talks. Speaking at a White House briefing, Bessent said President Donald Trump would not accept an unfavourable agreement. “He’s not going to take a bad deal,” Bessent said of the US president.
White House confirms draft Iran agreement still unsigned The White House has confirmed reports that a memorandum of understanding exists regarding a possible deal with Iran, though President Donald Trump has not yet signed it. According to the reported framework, the agreement would include a 60-day ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an Iranian commitment to clear all mines within 30 days. Iran would also pledge not to build a nuclear weapon, while the US would discuss sanctions relief and the unfreezing of Iranian assets.
Pakistan foreign minister to meet Rubio in Washington Pakistan says Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, DC, tomorrow to discuss “regional and global developments”, including Islamabad’s recent peace efforts. Pakistan has taken on a key mediation role between the US and Iran in recent months during the war in the Middle East, including helping negotiate a temporary ceasefire in April. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the two officials will “review bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest”.
Why Jordan cannot be stripped of Al-Aqsa custodianship Submitted by Mustafa Abu Sway on Thu, 05/28/2026 - 15:55 Tampering with the Hashemite status quo at Jerusalem's holy sites would put the region and the world on a collision course The author is pictured with Father Nabil Haddad at the Royal Hashemite Court in Amman, Jordan, in December 2025 (Supplied photo) Off Despite Washington’s long-standing recognition of Jordan as the custodian of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, including Al-Aqsa Mosque, Middle East Eye has reported that the US and Israel are “actively working” to dismantle this arrangement. The failure of the war on Iran to achieve its goals, the upcoming US midterms this fall, and the Israeli legislative elections slated for October - which could take place even earlier if the coalition government falls - might be driving American and Israeli leaders to look for other “achievements”. US President Donald Trump recently dangled another red herring, threatening not to sign a deal with Iran if Saudi Arabia and other countries do not join the Abraham Accords.
Trump circulates draft Iran peace deal to Israeli and allies US President Donald Trump has circulated a draft agreement to allies including Israel as efforts continue to prevent further ceasefire violations from derailing talks on ending the war on Iran. The proposal reportedly mirrors a framework already circulating in the region for several days. It would include reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, lifting the US blockade on Iranian ports and granting Iran access to up to $12bn in frozen assets.
Israel may need $6m to move Istanbul consulate Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Thu, 05/28/2026 - 14:24 The planned demolition of the former consulate building has complicated Israeli deliberations over whether to rebuild, relocate or stay away amid rising tensions with Turkey People hold Palestinian and Turkish flags as they protest in front of Israel's consulate in Istanbul on 16 May 2018 (Ozan Kose/AFP) Off The building that housed Israel’s consulate in Istanbul has failed an earthquake resilience inspection, prompting the Israeli government to consider its options. Sources familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye that the building, partially closed since Israel withdrew its diplomatic staff from Turkey in October 2023 over security concerns, is set to be demolished, with a new development planned to replace it over the coming years. This has left the Israeli government in a difficult position.
Iran’s supreme leader says US, Israel seek to destabilise Iran, calls for unity Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei accused Israel and the US on Thursday of seeking to “bring the nation to its knees” to "compensate for military defeats" and called for unity and “cohesion” among Iranians. "The enemy's blind plan, after the imposed war, the economic pressure, and the political and propaganda siege, is to create divisions and disintegration in order to compensate for military defeats and bring the nation to its knees," said Khamenei, in a message marking the anniversary of Iran’s national legislature. Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded his father Ali Khamenei after he was assassinated in US-Israeli attacks on 28 February, which began the war, and has not been seen in public since his appointment.
Pakistan’s foreign minister to visit Washington Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry Ishaq Dar will go to Washington, DC on Friday to meet with his US counterpart Marco Rubio to discuss “global developments of mutual interest” following renewed US-Israeli attacks on Iran, according to a statement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry. “The discussions will also focus on strengthening cooperation in key priority sectors, as well as Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy”, the statement added. 🔊PR No.
Mandelson links to former head of Israel's military intelligence directorate revealed Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 05/28/2026 - 11:14 Tamir Hayman and Mandelson spoke bimonthly, UK government vetting reportedly found, while the former ambassador took a $1m loan to buy Israeli company shares Former UK ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, walks his dog near his residence in central London on 20 April 2026 (AFP) Off The UK government's vetting agency raised Peter Mandelson's associations with senior figures in Israel , China and Russia in denying the then-peer and former cabinet minister security clearance to be the ambassador to the US , it has emerged. Mandelson lost his job as British ambassador to the US last September and was stripped of his peerage earlier this year after details emerged of his close friendship with the late American paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Since then Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government has faced enormous scrutiny and criticism over the decision to appoint Mandelson as ambassador to the US in 2024.
Israeli prosecutors indict senior Netanyahu aide The Israeli attorney general’s office has announced on Thursday the indictment of a senior adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of “transmitting classified information with the intent to harm state security”. The case involves the leak of a classified document to the German newspaper Bild in 2024, which aimed to support Netanyahu's claim that Hamas was not interested in a ceasefire deal, in order to justify Israel's continued military attacks on Gaza. The alleged leak was in violation of military censorship.
Iran diplomat criticises ‘European silence’ over US-Israel attacks Iranian ambassador to Germany, Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, has criticised European countries’ response to the latest US-Israeli attacks on Iran and Trump’s threats to “blow up Oman”, calling their “silence” complicity in “embolden[ing] warmongers”. Ahmadabadi said that “silence in the face of aggression does not lead to crisis containment, but rather to the normalisation of lawbreaking and the hostage-taking of international security,” in comments carried by Iran's Tasmin news agency. "The world must stand against this dangerous path before it is too late," he added.
Trump negotiating over his legacy, says former US official Joey Hood says President Donald Trump’s effort to tie a possible US-Iran deal to expanding Arab normalisation with Israel under the so-called Abraham Accords reflects his desire to shape a historic legacy. “Donald Trump really is negotiating with himself. He’s negotiating with his legacy,” Hood told Al Jazeera.
Trump says Strait of Hormuz will not be controlled by anyone US President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would remain outside the control of any single country as negotiations over the waterway continue. “We’ll watch over it, but nobody’s going to control it,” Trump said. “That’s part of the negotiation that we have.
Trump says US now has ‘things understood’ with Iran US President Donald Trump said the US now has “things understood” with Iran as negotiations continue over a possible agreement. “This is regime change,” Trump told his cabinet in closing remarks. He also said US negotiators were “doing very well”, while signalling that Washington was not yet ready to finalise a deal.
US extends deportation protections for Lebanese nationals The Trump administration will extend deportation protections and work permits for thousands of Lebanese nationals in the US for six months, according to a notice published in the Federal Register. An estimated 11,000 Lebanese nationals are covered under Temporary Protected Status, based on 2024 figures. The extension allows them to continue living and working legally in the US until 27 November.
Trump’s 'Board of Peace' fund has no money for Gaza: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 05/27/2026 - 19:13 A senior US official travelled to Saudi Arabia in April in an unsuccessful attempt to solicit funding from Saudi Arabia, MEE revealed US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio walk to board Air Force One before departing from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, on 20 March 2026 (Saul Loeb/AFP) Off The coffers of US President Donald Trump’s "Board of Peace" are empty and the organisation is stuck in a legal and political limbo, The Financial Times reported on Wednesday. The report follows a Middle East Eye exclusive that revealed a senior Trump administration official travelled to Saudi Arabia in April to ask the kingdom to follow through on its pledge of $1bn to the board. Aryeh Lightstone, one of the key US officials overseeing the US’s post-war planning for Gaza, met with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan to discuss the financial pledge Riyadh made, one Arab official and a US official told MEE.
Trump’s Board of Peace fund for Gaza received no money: Financial Times US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace has “zero” cash in its official fund despite member countries pledging billions of dollars, according to a report by the Financial Times. The newspaper said the fund, administered by the World Bank and endorsed by the United Nations, has not received any donor money since the board was established in January, citing four unnamed sources “familiar with the matter”. “Zero dollars have been deposited,” one source told the FT.
