A Qatari mediation team has arrived in Tehran to help revive stalled discussions between Iran and the United States. The delegation is holding meetings with Iranian officials aimed at reducing tensions and creating conditions for broader dialogue with Washington. The diplomatic effort comes amid heightened strain following recent military incidents and the collapse of previous agreements.

Iranian officials have expressed deep skepticism about Washington’s intentions, questioning the U.S. commitment to implementing a memorandum of understanding brokered earlier through Pakistan’s mediation. The distrust intensified after U.S. airstrikes in five Iranian provinces damaged military and civilian infrastructure, causing casualties, and after President Donald Trump unilaterally canceled the memorandum.

Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, declared that Iran would never surrender in the current conflict and is fully prepared for “total war.” Tehran insists that Washington must honor specific clauses of the memorandum, including ceasefire terms across all fronts, Iran’s sovereign rights in managing the Strait of Hormuz, and its right to export oil.

The Trump administration has expressed growing frustration over Iran’s conduct, saying the chances of reaching a nuclear agreement are diminishing. According to a Wall Street Journal report cited by Al Jazeera, Washington believes a peaceful resolution to limit Tehran’s nuclear program may no longer be possible. Senior US officials said Iran continues to violate interim maritime agreements, leaving little hope for a broader deal. President Donald Trump recently remarked that he was uncertain whether any agreement would be reached.

Officials warned that for a nuclear deal to proceed, Iran must hand over control of its underground enriched uranium to the United States. Failure to do so would mean no agreement. They also indicated that Washington has low-cost military options ready to permanently block Iran’s access to its nuclear materials.

The report underscores a deepening stalemate between the two countries, with the US signaling readiness to pursue alternative measures if diplomatic efforts fail.

The United States has attached several conditions to any future agreement with Iran, according to a senior U.S. official. Washington has made it clear that Iran must meet all American demands related to nuclear restrictions and hand over nuclear materials as required. Without fulfilling these conditions, no agreement will be signed. Despite these firm terms, diplomatic discussions between the two sides are continuing and have been described as positive and productive.

The development follows recent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, where a memorandum of understanding was allegedly violated and a ship was fired upon. Iranian officials explained to the U.S. that a faulty component in their system caused the incident. However, Washington rejected this explanation and issued an ultimatum to Tehran. The U.S. demanded that Iran publicly declare it will never again fire on any vessel and ensure that all maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, remain fully open.

The U.S. official warned that failure to comply with these conditions and maintain open sea routes would bring serious consequences for Iran.

During an official visit to Turkey, Iceland’s Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir expressed admiration for the country’s Muslim population, highlighting their tolerance, warm hospitality, and the spiritual atmosphere she experienced. In a post on social media platform X, she said she was deeply moved by the sound of the Azan, describing it as a profound and heartfelt melody.

Frostadóttir also noted the warm welcome she received throughout her visit and shared her appreciation for the positive experiences in Turkey. She stated that she intends to return to Turkey soon, emphasizing the impression the country and its people left on her.

The remarks reflect a tone of cultural appreciation and mutual respect between Iceland and Turkey, as conveyed through the Prime Minister’s personal reflections during her trip.

Ireland’s parliament has approved a bill banning the import of goods produced in Israeli settlements located in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, according to a report by the Times of Israel. The measure, titled the “Israeli Settlements” bill, will now move to the upper house of parliament for final approval. Dublin’s decision marks one of the toughest trade actions in Europe concerning Israeli-controlled territories.

The bill prohibits the entry of products from residential, agricultural, and business establishments situated outside Israel’s recognized borders. Although Ireland is the first EU country to propose such a ban, Spain implemented a similar restriction package in October of the previous year. Economically, the impact is expected to be minimal, as total imports from those areas between 2020 and 2024 were valued at less than one million euros.

Opposition politicians criticized the bill for excluding the services sector, arguing it would limit its effectiveness. The government responded that restricting services trade is legally more complex. Ireland has been a vocal critic of Israel’s military actions in Gaza since October 2023 and formally recognized a Palestinian state in 2024.

Turkey’s importance in Europe’s defense and security architecture is rapidly increasing, driven by its expanding military capabilities, self-reliant defense industry, and active diplomacy. Hosting the latest NATO summit, Ankara showcased its emergence as a key partner in European security. Turkey, which has NATO’s second-largest army, now meets about 80 percent of its own defense needs and recorded over 10 billion dollars in defense exports last year. Its Bayraktar TB-2 drones, used effectively in Ukraine, have been purchased by several European nations.

Turkish defense firms such as Roketsan and Aselsan are now part of major NATO projects, developing missile and air defense systems. Diplomatically, Turkey has played mediator roles in conflicts involving Ukraine, Syria, and the Middle East. During the summit, the UK and Turkey announced a new defense and security cooperation agreement to institutionalize intelligence sharing and joint defense efforts.

Analysts cited Europe’s growing reliance on Turkey amid rising security threats from Russia. However, Turkey’s deepening defense ties with Europe may create new geopolitical challenges, including tensions with the United States and Israel over advanced fighter jet programs.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he is considering selling advanced F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. He made the remarks during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara. Trump stated that a decision on whether to proceed with the sale would be made soon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has opposed the potential sale, urging Trump not to sell the advanced aircraft to Turkey. Netanyahu argued that such a move could endanger Israel, given the strained relations between Turkey and Israel. His office also reported that Trump briefed him on U.S. actions in the Gulf region amid ongoing tensions with Iran.

The discussions highlight the complex regional dynamics involving the United States, Turkey, Israel, and Iran, as Washington weighs its defense commitments and alliances in the Middle East.

Several regional countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt, are attempting to mediate between the United States and Iran to reduce escalating tensions and restart discussions on the nuclear agreement. According to Axios, officials from these nations held multiple phone calls with both sides on Wednesday to calm the situation and encourage renewed dialogue.

A regional source involved in the mediation said the first goal is to persuade both parties to de-escalate, followed by setting a date for expert-level talks on the nuclear deal. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Pakistan’s army chief that recent US attacks violated a memorandum of understanding between the two countries. Mediators believe recent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz were carried out by Iranian hardliners opposed to the US-Iran agreement.

Axios reported that despite recent clashes, the situation was calmer on Thursday. US officials said no new strikes occurred that day, attributing the pause to ongoing de-escalation efforts. The US administration remains committed to finding a resolution and continuing technical discussions on the nuclear issue.

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City’s Sabra area killed Mohammed al-Wahidi, a senior official of the Egyptian Relief Committee, along with three others earlier this week. The attack targeted a taxi on Tuesday, a day before the Egypt vs Argentina World Cup match. Among the dead were two child siblings aged 10 and 8, and another man identified as Ahmed Jihad Rajab Dagmoush. Hundreds of Palestinians attended al-Wahidi’s funeral on Wednesday, where his body was wrapped in Palestinian and Egyptian flags.

Al-Wahidi served as the public relations director of the Egyptian Relief Committee in Gaza, leading efforts to clear debris, reopen roads, and set up shelters for displaced families. He was known for organizing public screenings of World Cup matches to bring joy to war-weary Gazans. Egyptian security sources confirmed that he was responsible for logistics within the committee and said a senior Egyptian official raised his death with Israel, condemning continued killings and obstruction of relief work.

Despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in October 2025, Israeli airstrikes have persisted, killing at least 1,092 Palestinians and injuring over 3,507 since then, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

After the NATO summit in Ankara, several world leaders were surprised to find revolvers and live ammunition among their belongings. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had presented each leader with a vintage-style Gümüşay .357 Magnum revolver and bullets as farewell gifts. The gesture was intended to showcase Turkey’s defense industry, which has become a major export sector and a key element of its foreign policy.

Photos released by Lithuania’s president’s office showed the revolver in a wooden box bearing Turkish and NATO emblems. Leaders from Spain, Belgium, Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, Canada, and the European Commission handled the gifts differently, with some storing them in embassies, museums, or official buildings, and others leaving them in Ankara for deactivation. The Belgian prime minister even turned his revolver over to airport police for safekeeping.

The incident drew wide attention on social media, with some viewing it as symbolic while officials treated it as a matter of customs and diplomatic protocol. Turkey’s growing small arms industry has become a strong competitor in Europe, ranking third globally in small arms exports between 2019 and 2024.

More than 43 million people attended the funeral and farewell ceremonies of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, breaking all previous records, according to Iranian authorities. The six-day mourning processions took place across Iran and Iraq, marking what officials described as the largest public gathering and funeral in human history.

Fars News Agency reported that the ceremonies were held in Tehran, Qom, Najaf, Karbala, and Mashhad. The Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that nearly ten million people joined the events in Najaf and Karbala alone. Khamenei was killed along with his family in a U.S. terrorist attack in February, and the formal farewell began last Friday, attended by political leaders from over 45 countries and scholars and representatives from more than 90 nations.

Independent sources verified the attendance figures using travel data and mobile signal analysis, according to Press TV.

Former US Marine Corps officer Dan Grazier said that the United States has given an appropriate response to Iran’s attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that US forces have carried out strikes on Iranian military installations along the southern coast and targeted small Iranian vessels operating in the strait. These vessels are reportedly used by Iran to obstruct ships passing without Tehran’s authorization.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Grazier explained that Iran’s advantage lies in not needing to project military power far from its shores. Even minor disruptive actions by Iran can create significant challenges for the United States and Israel. He emphasized that Washington now needs to find a way to end the ongoing conflict, describing it as a complex asymmetric war.

According to Grazier, the United States has yet to find a solution to this type of warfare, underscoring the difficulty of managing the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Anti-immigration protests have escalated across South Africa, with demonstrators in Johannesburg conducting door-to-door searches for undocumented migrants on Thursday. Protesters in the Alexandra area reportedly broke into homes and handed over those without valid papers to police, including a Malawian woman and her child. Similar actions took place in Soweto and Durban, spreading fear among foreign residents.

The movement, led by former radio presenter Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, has vowed to continue weekly protests until its demands are met. Organizers blame undocumented migrants for South Africa’s economic problems and are calling for stricter border control, mass deportations, and priority access to public services for citizens. Anti-immigrant sentiment has grown amid high unemployment, with some groups having set an informal June 30 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged against blaming migrants for social and economic challenges, emphasizing the need to enforce immigration laws fairly. The unrest has already prompted more than 38,000 Malawians and 60,000 Zimbabweans to return home, according to their governments.

Israeli intelligence has claimed that Iran is planning to assassinate US President Donald Trump, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The report states that Israel recently informed Trump of intelligence suggesting that Iran was preparing a plot against him. A separate CNN report indicated that the intelligence referred to a specific plan targeting Trump. Neither the US government nor Iran has issued any official response to these claims.

The report adds that Washington had previously alleged multiple Iranian plots to kill Trump, which it said were thwarted. During his visit to Ankara this week to attend a NATO summit, Trump also mentioned that Iran posed a threat to his life, saying the country considered him a target.

The allegations come amid ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, with no immediate confirmation or denial from either side regarding the latest intelligence claims.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s office has strongly condemned Iran’s recent attacks on Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. According to the Wafa news agency, Abbas’s office expressed deep solidarity with the three countries on Thursday and reaffirmed Palestine’s full support for any measures they take to defend their sovereignty.

The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that it carried out strikes early Thursday on two U.S. military bases located in Kuwait and Bahrain. The IRGC described the attacks as the first phase of a punitive response against the United States, following two consecutive days of U.S. airstrikes inside Iran. The group warned that further retaliation could extend to other American bases in the Gulf region if U.S. operations continue.

The U.S. military stated that its airstrikes targeted 170 sites within Iran since Tuesday, while Iran’s military confirmed the deaths of eight soldiers in the initial wave of attacks near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.