Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday in Tehran that Iran will never abandon uranium enrichment in talks with the United States. He emphasized that Tehran is not afraid of US war threats, even with the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. Araghchi said Iran has little trust in Washington’s intentions and doubts whether the US is serious about negotiations.

He added that Iran is maintaining regular consultations with China and Russia, describing them as strategic partners in nuclear matters. The minister reiterated that no one has the right to dictate Iran’s behavior and that enrichment will continue even under the threat of war. Following a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel last June, the US and Iran resumed talks in Oman last Friday, with Tehran seeking the lifting of US economic sanctions.

Western countries and Israel have accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, a claim repeatedly denied by Tehran. Araghchi said Iran’s nuclear program is meant to assert independence from major powers, not to build bombs. He also rejected expanding the talks to include Iran’s missile program or regional activities.

US President Donald Trump announced that Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit the White House later this year, marking a significant step toward improving relations between the world’s two largest economies after years of trade tensions and diplomatic strain. Trump made the remarks in an interview with NBC News, recorded on Wednesday, the same day the two leaders held wide-ranging discussions on trade, Taiwan, the Ukraine war, and the situations in Russia and Iran.

Trump also indicated he may visit China in April, with Xi’s US trip expected to follow. He described his recent talks with Xi as positive and productive, emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong ties between Washington and Beijing. Since returning to the White House, Trump’s administration has taken a tough stance on tariffs, imposing duties on steel, cars, and other sectors, though both sides reached a broad understanding last spring after heightened tensions.

Xi, who last visited the US in 2023, urged caution over US arms sales to Taiwan and expressed hope that bilateral issues could be resolved amicably through dialogue, according to Chinese state television CCTV.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia has no plans to attack any part of Europe but is prepared to respond militarily if attacked. He made the remarks in an interview with broadcaster NTV, according to TASS. Lavrov emphasized that Russia has no reason to launch an assault on Europe but would deliver a full military response if European nations decided to act on threats of war against Russia.

In late December 2025, during his year-end press conference, President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is not at war with the West, though Western countries are fighting Russia through Ukraine. Putin reiterated that Russia never sought conflict with Europe but warned that if Europe initiated war, there should be no doubt about Russia’s readiness to retaliate immediately.

The statements from both Lavrov and Putin appear aimed at reinforcing Russia’s stance that it seeks no confrontation with Europe while signaling readiness to respond decisively to any aggression.

At least nine people were killed and several others injured when a residential building collapsed in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, on Sunday night, according to officials cited by Al Jazeera. Lebanon’s Civil Defense Director General Imad Khreish said nine bodies had been recovered and six survivors were taken to hospital. The building consisted of two blocks with six apartments each, and residents estimated that around 22 people were inside when it collapsed.

Rescue operations are being conducted by Civil Defense teams with support from the Lebanese Red Cross and other emergency and relief organizations. Local residents have also joined efforts to clear debris. Tripoli’s Mayor Abdel Hamid Karimeh declared the city a disaster zone, citing unsafe buildings and years of neglect that have left thousands at risk, beyond the municipality’s capacity to manage.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that security forces evacuated nearby buildings. President Joseph Aoun ordered all emergency services to assist rescue operations and ensure safe shelter for nearby residents, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam pledged housing allowances for those displaced. The report noted that many of Lebanon’s aging and war-era buildings pose serious safety risks.

Israel’s security cabinet has approved new regulations aimed at tightening control over the occupied West Bank. According to the report, the measures will make it easier for Israeli settlers to purchase land in the territory and grant Israeli officials broader authority to enforce laws on Palestinians in the area.

The Palestinian Authority condemned the move, calling it a dangerous step that legitimizes settlement expansion and land seizure. In a statement, the office of President Mahmoud Abbas urged immediate intervention by the United States and the United Nations Security Council. Jordan’s Foreign Ministry also denounced the decision, describing it as an attempt to impose illegal Israeli sovereignty and entrench settlements.

Meanwhile, Hamas called on Palestinians in the West Bank to intensify resistance against what it termed occupying forces and settlers. The new regulations have sparked strong regional criticism and calls for international response.

A Panama-flagged cargo vessel named MV Siloed ARC sank off the coast of Phuket, Thailand, on Saturday afternoon while en route from Port Klang, Malaysia, to Chattogram port in Bangladesh. The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. local time, approximately four nautical miles from the Phuket coast. All 16 Bangladeshi sailors aboard were rescued safely by a team from the Thai Navy.

According to Borhan Uddin, operational manager of Alvi Lines Bangladesh, the ship tilted 30 degrees before sinking in deep waters. The vessel’s captain declared it abandoned before the rescue operation. The rescued sailors were taken to a hotel in Phuket, where they are reported to be in good health.

Borhan Uddin added that the sailors are expected to return to Bangladesh within a few days following their rescue.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said that ending the ongoing war requires a face-to-face meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia to resolve the most difficult issues in peace negotiations. He claimed that only U.S. President Donald Trump has the authority to secure an agreement capable of stopping the conflict. Sybiha expressed Kyiv’s eagerness to accelerate the end of the four-year-long war and to use the current momentum in U.S.-mediated talks before the upcoming midterm congressional elections in November.

In an interview with Reuters at his office on the Dnipro River in Kyiv, Sybiha stated that most points in a 20-point peace plan, developed through recent trilateral discussions among Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, have already been agreed upon. However, he noted that a few highly sensitive and difficult issues remain, which must be resolved directly by the national leaders. The main unresolved matter concerns territorial control: Russia demands that Ukraine cede the remaining 20 percent of eastern Donetsk, while Kyiv firmly rejects this and insists on regaining control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently under Russian occupation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has sharply criticized the recent US military presence in the region, declaring that Iran is not intimidated by the deployment of American naval forces. Speaking at a forum in Tehran on Sunday, Araghchi said the country would continue its uranium enrichment and broader nuclear program despite mounting US military and diplomatic pressure.

According to TRT World, Araghchi’s remarks came two days after an indirect meeting in Oman with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Following that meeting, Witkoff visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, currently stationed in the region as part of a US show of force. Araghchi dismissed the deployment as insignificant, emphasizing that Iran’s nuclear program is a matter of national sovereignty and not a bargaining tool.

He added that Tehran is prepared to face the risk of armed conflict to protect its nuclear infrastructure. The statement follows years of escalating tension since the US withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 and subsequent regional clashes, including US and Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities in 2025.

South Africa has decided to withdraw its troops deployed under the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a statement issued on Saturday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the South African contingent stationed in Congo will be brought back. He informed UN Secretary-General António Guterres of the decision, citing the need to reorganize the country’s armed forces as the main reason for the withdrawal.

According to TRT World, South Africa has participated in the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo for the past 27 years and currently has more than 700 soldiers deployed there. When the mission’s mandate was extended in December last year, around 11,000 troops and police officers were serving under the UN mission. The mission’s primary role is to combat various rebel groups in Congo, where decades of conflict have intensified in recent times.

The statement added that South Africa will coordinate with the UN to finalize the withdrawal timeline and process, aiming to complete it before the end of 2026. Ramaphosa’s office said the country will continue close bilateral relations with Congo and support international efforts for lasting peace.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that dialogue remains the key to peacefully resolving disputes, following recent indirect talks between Iran and the United States in Oman. In a post on social media platform X on Sunday, he said the discussions, supported by regional countries, signaled a step forward in reducing tensions. Pezeshkian emphasized that Tehran has always prioritized dialogue for peaceful solutions and reiterated that Iran’s nuclear program is its legitimate right.

The talks came after heightened tensions triggered by US President Donald Trump’s threats of military action against Iran. Following the first round of discussions in Oman on Friday, Iranian negotiator Abbas Araghchi described the meeting as a good start but warned that if Washington targets Iranian territory, Tehran would strike US bases in the region. He also confirmed that a second round of talks with the United States would take place soon.

The renewed diplomatic engagement suggests cautious optimism for de-escalation, though both sides remain firm on national security and sovereignty issues.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned attacks by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on civilians and humanitarian organizations. According to the ministry’s statement, RSF forces targeted the Kuweik Military Hospital, a humanitarian aid convoy linked to the World Food Programme, and vehicles transporting displaced citizens. The assaults caused numerous civilian deaths and extensive damage to humanitarian operations in North and South Kordofan states.

The statement described the attacks as a clear violation of humanitarian standards and international agreements. Saudi Arabia urged the RSF to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected areas. The ministry reaffirmed the kingdom’s firm support for Sudan’s unity, security, and stability.

Saudi Arabia also called for an end to foreign interference, illegal arms supplies, and the use of foreign fighters, emphasizing that such actions prolong the conflict and worsen the suffering of the Sudanese people.

Hundreds of people gathered in Paris, France, to demonstrate solidarity with the peoples of Palestine, Haiti, Venezuela, New Caledonia, Congo, and Sudan. The protest took place at Place de la Nation, where participants denounced discrimination and oppression faced by these communities. The demonstration was organized following calls from various civic organizations, according to Anadolu Agency.

Protesters carried banners reading “Boycott Israel” and waved flags representing the six nations. Members of France’s Yellow Vest movement also joined the rally, adding to the diverse group of participants. The event reflected a broader expression of international solidarity with populations perceived as victims of injustice and repression.

The gathering highlighted continued public engagement in France with global human rights issues and solidarity movements, particularly concerning Palestine and other regions experiencing political or humanitarian crises.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported that the Indian government is normalizing violence against religious minorities, marginalized groups, and critics through discriminatory policies, hate speech, and politically motivated cases. The findings were published in HRW’s latest global report, which reviewed human rights conditions in more than 100 countries.

According to the report, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government spread hostility against religious minorities in 2025 and expelled hundreds of Bengali-speaking Muslims and Rohingya refugees by labeling them as “illegal immigrants.” HRW said these actions have led to increased human rights violations by government officials and BJP supporters. HRW’s Asia Director Elaine Pearson stated that instead of presenting India as a global voice for human rights, the government has undermined its international standing.

The 529-page World Report 2026 also includes remarks from HRW Executive Director Philippe Bolopion, who described the rise of authoritarianism worldwide as a major challenge and urged democratic nations and civil societies to form strategic alliances to protect fundamental freedoms.

Italy has announced it will not join U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed Peace Board. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told the news agency ANSA that constitutional obligations prevent Italy from participating. He explained that there is a legal conflict between Italy’s constitution and the charter of the Peace Board, which cannot be ignored. Tajani added that Italy remains open to discussions on peace initiatives.

By refusing to join, Italy aligns itself with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, which have also declined participation in the controversial board. The Peace Board was introduced as an interim administrative body to oversee governance and reconstruction in post-war Gaza. However, Trump expanded its authority before the charter’s approval, omitting any reference to Gaza.

The decision comes despite the close relationship between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Trump, who chairs the board. Tajani cited Article 11 of Italy’s constitution, which discourages joining organizations that lack equality among member states, while Trump holds ultimate authority over the board.

US President Donald Trump’s chief Iran negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, visited the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln deployed in the Arabian Sea amid heightened Middle East tensions. The US military confirmed the visit on Saturday, noting that the officials toured the nuclear-powered carrier and its strike group. The visit came as prospects grew for renewed talks between Washington and Tehran.

According to AFP, the inspection coincided with expectations of new discussions between the two countries. Following the visit, Witkoff stated on social media that the carrier and its strike group were ensuring US security and upholding President Trump’s message of peace. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed optimism that talks with the United States would resume soon but warned against any potential US military action.

The visit followed indirect talks held in Oman’s capital the previous Friday, described by both sides as a positive start. The USS Abraham Lincoln had arrived in the region in January after tensions rose over the suppression of anti-government protests in Iran.