Latest news with #negotiations
Washington Post
22 minutes ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Israel-Iran live updates: European ministers to meet for Iran talks as Trump cites chance for diplomacy
President Donald Trump said there is a 'substantial chance of negotiations' with Iran and he will wait up to two weeks to decide whether to attack the country's nuclear program — a change in tone from his bellicose comments earlier this week, including a warning for the evacuation of Tehran. A group of foreign ministers from Europe will convene with their Iranian counterpart in Geneva on Friday for a meeting being coordinated with Washington, according to two officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive plans. Israel and Iran continue to exchange strikes, with a missile barrage from Iran damaging a six-story building in southern Israel early Friday. The Israeli military said Friday it attacked dozens of targets in Tehran overnight as well as another site in Iran involved in producing components for the country's nuclear program. Iranian semiofficial media reported an explosion in an industrial area of Rasht in northern Iran early Friday, hours after the Israeli military had issued an evacuation order for the Sefidrood industrial park outside the city. President Donald Trump will wait as much as two weeks to decide whether to attack Iran's nuclear program, the White House said Thursday, dialing back rhetoric about Iran having missed its window to reach a deal. In a statement read by his press secretary, Trump said he believes there is now a 'substantial chance of negotiations' with Iran — a sharp contrast with his bellicose comments on Iran in recent days.
The Independent
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump to make decision over Israel-Iran conflict ‘within two weeks'
President Trump announced he will decide within two weeks whether to order US warplanes to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. The decision is contingent on the potential for negotiations with Iran regarding their nuclear weapons program. Trump indicated that Iranian leaders have expressed interest in direct talks, despite previous failed negotiations and escalating hostilities following Israel 's military operation. Iran's foreign minister is scheduled to meet with Western officials in Geneva, but Tehran has continued missile assaults on southern Israel and demanded Israel halt its attacks. Despite diplomatic overtures, the US has issued evacuation notices for Americans in Israel, and Trump had previously approved a plan for strikes on Iran's Fordow nuclear facility.
Bloomberg
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Trump to Decide Whether to Join Strikes on Iran Within Two Weeks
President Donald Trump will decide within two weeks whether to strike Iran, his spokeswoman said, as Israel hit more Iranian nuclear sites and warned its attacks may bring down the leadership in Tehran. 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,' Trump said in a dictated message, according to White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.
SBS Australia
2 hours ago
- Politics
- SBS Australia
SBS News In Easy English 20 June 2025
Welcome to SBS News Easy English. I'm Biwa Kwan. The White House says United States President Donald Trump will decide within the next two weeks whether to strike Iran. Although, it also confirmed Mr Trump still sees a "substantial" chance that negotiations can achieve U-S and Israeli demands on Iran's nuclear program. White House Press secretary Karoline Leavitt says Mr Trump has warned Iran to immediately shut down its nuclear enrichment operations and any other potential for producing nuclear weapons. Reporter:" What makes him think there's still a substantial change, is my question." Karoline Leavitt: "I'm not going to get into the reasoning and the rationale. The president believes that, but that's his position, and he will a decision within next two weeks." Australia has suspended operations at its embassy in Iran's capital and ordered the departure of all Australian officials, due to the deteriorating security environment. Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia's ambassador to Iran will remain in the region to support the government's response to the crisis. Evacuation of Australians from Israel and Iran organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are underway. Around 1,200 Australians in Israel are seeking to leave, while 2,000 Australians in Iran have registered for assistance. Australian Yigal Kedam in Tel Aviv told SBS News he is grateful to be leaving the country now. "With the borders closing, the airport closing, basically we have had to look for other options to get home, and I have to say the Australian embassy has been really, really helpful in providing the options that we are now here for." Australian universities have dropped in the latest world universities rankings list. The report measures student experience, global partnerships, research opportunities and the quality of teaching. The University of Melbourne retained its position as the top-rated Australian institution, but it dropped six places against overseas educational facilities - from 13th to 19th in the world. The University of New South Wales dropped one place to 20th, while Sydney University fell seven spots to rank 25th. Despite the drop in rankings, Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson says the results remained impressive, with about a quarter of Australia's 40 universities listed in the world's top 200. Thousands of people have gathered at Victoria's Parliament House to greet the state's truth-telling commissioner Travis Lovett, as he completed his 508-kilometre walk across the state. More than 12,000 people joined the Aboriginal leader along the 25-day Walk for Truth from Portland in the state's West to Melbourne. The walk marks the end of Australia's first formal truth-telling process of the impacts of colonisation on First Nations Australians. The Yoorrook Justice Commission's four-year long inquiry will formally conclude at the end of the month, and the thousands of hours of evidence collected from Aboriginal Victorians will contribute to an official public record. Levi Power, a member of the First People's Assembly of Victoria says it's a significant chance for change. "We must have these truths told to guide these decisions and to guide our journey forward, not only for this first treaty but going into the future as well." New Zealand has paused almost $17 million in funding to the Cook Islands. New Zealand has criticised the Cook Islands for a lack of transparency over deals made with China. It says China needs to restore trust before New Zealand signs off any new funding. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who's visiting China and will have a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, is demanding answers. "The Cook Islands Government, as we have been very open from the beginning, the beginning of this year, was not transparent and open about it's international agreement that it did, in this case, with China, through the comprehensive strategic partnership. We want to make sure that any risks are well managed, we have obligations under the agreements, as New Zealand, with a realm country that need to be upheld and as a result that transparency is really important. As a result, we've suspended some of the aid money until we can get clarity on those issues." Australia's unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1 per cent in May. The data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows around 2,500 jobs were lost from the economy, despite forecasts that 20,000 jobs would be gained after 89,000 jobs were created in April. But employment was still up by 2.3 per cent compared with this time last year, which was stronger than pre-pandemic levels. The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Amanda Rishworth, says the full-time employment data reflects a resilient jobs market. "It is encouraging that we have continued to see strong full-time jobs growth, with this month recording more than 38,000 full-time jobs. And full-time employment remains at a record high." Thanks for listening. This is SBS News in Easy English.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Japan's trade negotiator says US tariff talks are 'in a fog'
TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan's top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said on Friday that trade negotiations with the U.S. "remained in a fog" despite efforts by both sides to seek an agreement. Tokyo has failed so far to clinch a trade deal with Washington and fulfil its goal of convincing President Donald Trump to scrap a 25% tariff on Japanese cars as well as a 24% reciprocal tariff on other Japanese imports that has been paused until July 9. July 9 is an important date but not a deadline for bilateral trade talks, Akazawa told a news conference. "We're looking for the possibility of a deal in ministerial-level negotiations. But the outlook remains in a fog," he said on the prospects of clinching an agreement. The remarks are likely to fuel fears that the bilateral trade talks could drag on possibly until after an expected upper house election on July 20. Analysts say the approaching election makes it difficult for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to make concessions on the politically sensitive issue of agriculture imports. The tariffs are already hurting Japan's fragile economy. Japan's exports fell in May for the first time in eight months as big automakers like Toyota were hit by sweeping U.S. tariffs, clouding the outlook for an economy heavily reliant on car shipments to the United States.
