
Iran Rules Out US Talks Unless Israel Halts Strikes
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that Tehran has ruled out any possibility of negotiations with the United States while Israeli strikes continue. His remarks came just hours before he was scheduled to meet European counterparts in Geneva.
"We are not ready to engage in negotiations with any side while the Israeli aggression continues," Araghchi said, according to state media.
He noted that Washington has sent messages seeking direct talks with Tehran, but said Iran has rejected the overtures. "We told the Americans clearly: as long as the attacks persist, there can be no negotiations. We are exercising our legitimate right to self-defense," he added.
This is a developing story. Updates to follow.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Hill
9 minutes ago
- The Hill
Israel, Iran trade strikes as Trump weighs US military involvement
Israel and Iran traded strikes on Friday as President Trump weighs the possibility of U.S. involvement and European officials seek to revive nuclear negotiations with Tehran. Israel said it hit 60 Iranian aircrafts early Friday morning along with the headquarters of the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, which carries out nuclear weapons research, according to the Associated Press. Iranian media said Israel's strikes also hit the city of Rasht on the Caspian Sea early Friday. Reuters reported that at least one Iranian missile struck Beersheba, Israel's largest southern city, early Friday, ripping off the facade of at least one apartment complex and leaving a crater in a residential area. CNN reported it struck close to a tech park that houses a Microsoft office. Iran also struck near civilian sites in Haifa, injuring more than a dozen people and sending residents running for cover in a shopping mall, CNN reported. That followed an Iranian strike on Thursday that struck a hospital in Beersheba, wounding at least 80 patients and medical workers, according to Israeli officials. Israel's defense chief accused Iran of war crimes and said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be held accountable for the attack. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched overnight bombings in the heart of Tehran, along with the cities of Tabriz and Kermanshah, hitting 'missile storage and launch infrastructure components,' according to the AP. 'We are strengthening our air control in the region and advancing our air offensive,' Israeli military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin told reporters, according to the AP. 'We have more sites to strike in Tehran, western Iran and other places.' Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, met with Britain's foreign secretary on Thursday to discuss diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is slated to meet with European leaders in Geneva to discuss a new nuclear deal. Iran earlier this month rejected U.S. proposals to effectively end its nuclear program, and move enrichment facilities outside the country. The White House on Thursday released a statement from President Trump saying he would decide within two weeks on whether to join Israel's war. Israel is pressuring the U.S. to deploy it's 'bunker buster' bombs on Iran's Fordo uranium enrichment facility, which is key to its nuclear program and buried deep inside a mountain. While Trump has been publicly non-committal on resuming talks with Tehran, Araghci said Thursday the U.S. is pushing for diplomacy behind the scenes. 'It is the Americans who want talks,' he said, according to AP. 'They've sent messages several times — very serious ones — but we made it explicitly clear to them that as long as this aggression and invasion continue, there is absolutely no room for talk or diplomacy. We are engaged in legitimate self-defense, and this defense will not stop under any circumstances.' Earlier this week, Trump urged civilians to evacuate Tehran immediately, as the U.S. ordered a third U.S. Navy destroyer to the eastern portion of the Mediterranean Sea. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking near the damaged Beersheba hospital, said he trusted that Trump would 'do what's best for America.' 'I can tell you that they're already helping a lot,' he added.
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
EU imposes medical device procurement restrictions on Chinese firms
The European Commission (EC) will restrict Chinese companies from EU government purchases of medical devices exceeding €5m ($5.7m). The move comes after a report found that 87% of public procurement contracts for medical devices in China were subject to 'exclusionary and discriminatory measures' and practices against EU-made medical devices and EU suppliers. In addition, Chinese entities will now be restricted from around 60% of annual spending within the medical device field, with EU contracting authorities now ordered to ensure that up to 50% of a contract's value is subcontracted to Chinese entities or includes Chinese-origin medical devices. Initiated in April 2024 with the findings published in January 2025, the report guiding the EU's decision marked the first investigation under the EU's International Procurement Instrument (IPI) regulation of 2022, a law created to promote reciprocity in access to international public procurement markets. China is the second-largest medtech market worldwide. The EU's investigation concluded that Chinese policies, including its 'Made in China 2025' economic roadmap, favoured domestic medical devices over imported ones by design. The EC also observed that China's volume-based procurement of medical devices forces bidders to offer the lowest possible price, and that the contracting authorities set a maximum reference price and maximum price margins for bid selection. The commission stated that the European procurement market is still one of the most open in the world, highlighting that Chinese medical device exports to the EU more than doubled between 2015 and 2023. The EC stated that it had made repeated efforts to engage with Chinese authorities regarding the lack of reciprocity and to seek a constructive and fair solution that would enable EU companies to access the Chinese market on terms comparable to those enjoyed by Chinese firms in the EU. However, the EC stated that China had 'so far not offered specific commitments that would address the discriminatory measures and practices identified'. The EC backed the restrictions earlier this month. Writing in state news outlet Xinhua, China's Ministry of Commerce (MoC) opposed the plans, branding the EU's move 'protectionist'. The ministry wrote: 'As responsible major economies, China and the EU should adhere to WTO [World Trade Organization] rules, uphold the principles of fairness, transparency and non-discrimination, address challenges through mutual openness, and resolve differences through cooperative dialogue to jointly safeguard the healthy development of China-EU economic and trade relations.' The EC stated that should China offer 'concrete, verifiable, and satisfactory solutions that effectively address the concerns identified', the IPI framework allows for the suspension or withdrawal of measures. Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security; Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, commented: 'Our aim with these measures is to level the playing field for EU businesses. We remain committed to dialogue with China to resolve these issues.' "EU imposes medical device procurement restrictions on Chinese firms" was originally created and published by Medical Device Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
I'm an Economist: 4 Questions To Ask About Tariffs (and 2 Not To Worry About)
President Trump's tariffs has been dominating headlines for months now, prompting concerns about how they may affect everything from grocery bills to investment accounts. While it's tempting to react to every trade policy shift, not all impacts are immediate or relevant to everyday consumers. Trending Now: Try This: Here's a quick breakdown on Trump's tariffs, why they have been implemented, and what everyone knows so far: Tariffs are taxes charged on imported goods. For example, a 10% tariff means a $10 product would have a $1 tax on top, which would make your total $11. President Trump has doubled U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50%. There is a 25% tax on imports from both Canada and Mexico and a 10% levy on Canadian energy. Though there has been a lot of back and forth as to the amount, the current tariff on goods from China is 20%. The White House also implemented a 20% tariff on most European Union goods, but halved it to 10% until July 8, 2025, to allow time for trade talks. Trump is mandating that most countries have a 10% 'baseline' tariff on all goods sent to the U.S. GOBankingRates spoke with Jared Ashworth, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, to determine the four questions you should be asking about tariffs — and the two things you shouldn't worry about. Most consumers don't need to follow every twist in trade policy. However, they do need to understand how tariffs might affect their wallets, savings and investments. Here are four practical financial questions worth asking right now. Uncertainty is the biggest concern about the tariffs. 'In recent months, there have been significant swings in what the actual tariffs will be,' Ashworth said. 'Many of these tariffs could also be rolled back if, for example, a target country changes its trade policy.' This has caused a lot of uncertainty. 'As a result, financial markets have become much more uncertain. Standard advice about risk and uncertainty, like considering your risk aversion or how close you are to retirement, matters even more in this context,' Ashworth said. Many retailers have already or will likely adjust their prices quickly in anticipation of the tariffs. According to Wired, the price of refrigerator staples like apple juice is already increasing, as most apple juice that Americans drink comes from China. Apple juice is just one of the many goods American consumers count on that will likely become more expensive due to the tariffs. 'The goal of tariffs is to allow domestic firms to charge higher prices and compete with the raised prices of international firms,' Ashworth said. Consumers are making big purchases in anticipation of the tariffs. For example, sales of cars and motor vehicles parts were up by 8.8% from last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. 'Most people won't be able to gain by making major changes based on broad news,' Ashworth said. 'For example, with cars, even though the vehicles currently on lots weren't directly affected by tariffs, the rush to buy before the tariffs take full effect has driven up prices.' According to USA Today, the manufacturing, construction, transportation, warehousing, retail and supply chain sectors are most likely to be affected by tariffs and are paring back on hiring. Ashworth said individuals should consider shifting investments to companies less affected by tariffs, even though the market expectations are already reflected in stock prices. Healthcare and financial services are among the sectors that are still poised to grow or remain stable, per USA Today. Tariffs can feel like a threat to every part of one's financial life, but not all impacts are immediate or personal. Here's what to set aside for now. The uncertainty about the impact of the tariffs also means that it's hard to know what will happen next or how long the effects will last. 'While the U.S. is part of a globally connected economy, imports and exports still make up a relatively small percentage of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product),' Ashworth said. 'The idea of a full-out trade war often depends on how it's framed, which is part of the problem.' For example, tariffs are viewed as either a measure that protects domestic industries or a policy that punishes countries engaging in unfair trade. 'But those goals can be contradictory,' Ashworth said. 'If tariffs are a punishment, then the once the country reforms its trade practices, we're expected to drop the tariffs, potentially ending the protection for domestic industries.' It's easy to feel powerless when trade policy shifts overnight. But for most consumers, the best response isn't control; it's adaptability. 'While tariffs can affect exchange rates and relative interest rates, most of those impacts aren't something everyday people can or should try to take advantage of,' Ashworth said. 'Unless you have direct influence over national policy, there's little you can do to change it. Instead, focus on staying flexible in this period of heightened uncertainty.' While there isn't much that can be done when it comes to government policy, consumers can take other actions to protect themselves and their finances. 'As with any pressure that raises prices, find ways to reduce consumption and spend less. While tariffs might contribute to a recession, individuals should still prioritize cutting back on spending and increasing savings,' Ashworth said. Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates Clever Ways To Save Money That Actually Work in 2025 This article originally appeared on I'm an Economist: 4 Questions To Ask About Tariffs (and 2 Not To Worry About) Sign in to access your portfolio