Israel has bombed the northern Iranian city of Rasht, causing a massive fireball to rise through the night sky, not long after it sent out a warning for people to evacuate the area. One of the strikes reportedly hit the Sefidrood Industrial park.
Published On 20 Jun 2025
Israel-Iran air war enters second week as Europe pushes diplomacy
Editor, BBC Tigrinya
AFP via Getty ImagesOnce hailed as part of a new generation of reformist African leaders, Eritrea’s president, who recently marked 32 years in power, has long defied expectations.
Isaias Afwerki now spends much of his time at his rural residence on a dusty hillside some 20km (12 miles) from the capital, Asmara.
With the cabinet not having met since 2018, all power flows through him, and like a potentate he receives a string of local officials and foreign dignitaries at his retreat.
It is also a magnet for ordinary Eritreans hoping in vain that Isaias might help them with their problems.
The 79-year-old has never faced an election in his three decades in power and there is little sign of that changing any time soon.
But things looked very different in the 1990s.
Isaias was 45 when, as a rebel leader, his Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) defeated Ethiopia in 1991. Those who fought in the war are remembered each year on Martyrs’ Day, 20 June.
Tall and charismatic, he inspired hope both at home and abroad.
In 1993, following formal independence, Isaias appeared on the international stage as head of state for the first time.
It was in Cairo, where he attended a continental leaders’ summit, that he lambasted the older generation of African leaders “who wanted to stay in power for decades”.
He vowed that Eritrea would never repeat the same old failed approach and promised a democratic order that would underpin the social and economic development of his people. His stance won him plaudits from Eritreans and diplomats alike.
Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesRiding the euphoria of the early years of independence and enjoying a glowing international reception, Isaias sought closer relations with the West.
In 1995, after inviting the Eritrean leader to the Oval Office, US President Bill Clinton expressed appreciation for the country’s strong start on the road to democracy.
Eritrea had just begun drafting a new constitution expected to establish the rule of law and a democratic system.
Isaias was supposed to be a “transitional president” until a constitutional government was elected. The new constitution was ratified by a constituent assembly in May 1997.
But just as Eritreans and the world were expecting national elections in 1998, war broke out between Eritrea and neighbouring Ethiopia over a disputed border.
Isaias was accused of using the war as a justification to postpone the elections indefinitely.
He had promised a multiparty democratic system and his resolve was tested after a peace agreement was reached in 2000.
Several of his cabinet ministers, including former close friends and comrades-in-arms, began to call for reform.
In an open letter issued in March 2001, a group of senior government officials, who later became known as the G-15, accused the president of abusing his powers and becoming increasingly autocratic. They called for the implementation of the constitution and national elections.
AFP via Getty ImagesStarting from the mid 1990s, Eritreans had tasted some freedom, with emerging newspapers carrying critical voices — including from within the ruling party, that had been renamed the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ).
The transitional national assembly had decided when elections would take place, an electoral commission was being formed and proposed political party laws were under debate.
The country seemed to be on a slow path towards democratisation.
However, this fragile opening abruptly closed in September 2001, while the world’s attention was focussed on the 9/11 attacks in the US.
In a single morning, the authorities shut down all independent newspapers, effectively silencing critical voices. Many editors and journalists were detained and never seen again.
Simultaneously, the government arrested 11 of the G-15, including three former foreign ministers, a chief of staff of the armed forces and several members of the national assembly. They have not been seen or heard from since.
The hopes of many Eritreans were dashed.
But Isaias had already moved away from introducing democratic changes.
“I had never had any intention of participating in political parties,” he said in April 2001.
“I don’t have any intention of participating in a political party now, and I won’t have any intention of participating in a political party in the future.”
He also described the democratic process as a “mess”, saying that the PFDJ was “not a party. It is a nation”.
For many, it became clear the president would not allow democratic reforms to take hold.
The silencing of critics and the failure to hold elections, earned him and his country pariah status.
However, his supporters say he was unfairly targeted by Western nations and praise him as a symbol of national liberation.
AFP via Getty ImagesIn 2002, he unofficially dissolved the transitional assembly that was meant to hold him accountable and in effect did the same with the cabinet in 2018.
Some aging ministers with no real authority now lead weak government agencies, and several ministries – including defence – remain without ministers.
Many wonder why the independence hero took such a repressive turn.
Abdella Adem, a former regional governor and senior ambassador, says Isaias never believed in democracy and has always been obsessed with power. He led the EPLF with an iron fist even before independence, according to Mr Abdella, who now lives in exile in London.
“He systematically weakened and removed leaders with public legitimacy and struggle credentials who could challenge his authority.”
To some surprise, in May 2014, Isaias announced plans for a new constitution, later saying that the constitution ratified in 1997 was “dead”. But no progress has been made since then.
The proposal to write a new constitution may have been triggered by an attempted coup by senior military officers in 2013.
They drove tanks into the capital and seized control of national TV and radio stations for several hours.
Realising the attempt was failing, they tried to broadcast a call to implement the 1997 constitution and release political prisoners. But security forces pulled the plug mid-broadcast.
Many officials – including the mines minister, a governor, diplomats and a general – were detained. The leader of the coup killed himself to avoid arrest.
Zeraslasie Shiker, a former diplomat, left his post in Nigeria and sought asylum in the UK. His boss, Ambassador Ali Omeru, a veteran of the independence war, was later detained and remains unaccounted for.
Governments that lock people up “like Isaias Afwerki’s do not allow genuine political and social institutions or the rule of law”, says Mr Zeraslasie, now a PhD candidate at the UK’s Leeds University.
“The indefinite suspension of Eritrea’s constitution and the collapsing of government institutions into the office of the president must be understood in this context.”
Isolated internationally, Isaias withdrew from the global stage. He stopped attending summits such as the UN General Assembly and African Union meetings.
AFP via Getty ImagesThe country’s economy has “struggled”, according to the World Bank’s assessment last year.
“Economic activity is constrained by underdeveloped infrastructure, limited competition due to state dominance, and strict import controls,” the authors said, adding that the financial sector remained “weak”.
Isaias himself acknowledged problems in an interview with state TV in December last year.
“A subsistence economy will lead us nowhere. Currently, we are not in a better position than many other African countries in this regard,” he said.
Isaias also refuses humanitarian aid, citing fears of dependency that would undermine his principle of “self-reliance”.
For many Eritreans, especially young people trapped in indefinite national service, which the authorities justify because of a series of conflicts and tense relations with its neighbours, daily life is a nightmare. Under a repressive regime, they face a future with little hope or freedom.
Disillusioned by the lack of political progress and exhausted by forced conscription and state violence, many risk their lives to escape in search of freedom.
Over the past two decades, hundreds of thousands have fled, crossing deserts and seas to find safe haven. Eritreans are currently the third most common nationality to be granted refugee status in the UK.
In his independence day speech last month, Isaias gave no hint of any of the changes many Eritreans hope to see. There was no mention of a constitution, national elections or the release of political prisoners.
At the same time there was no concrete plan to turn round the country’s moribund economy.
Despite criticism at home, President Isaias retains support among parts of the population, particularly within the military, ruling party networks and those who view him as a symbol of national independence and resistance against foreign interference.
The president also has strong backing among some in the diaspora, who believe Western powers are conspiring to undermine Eritrea’s hard-won independence.
As frustration grew in Eritrea, Isaias retreated from Asmara in 2014 to his home that overlooks the Adi Hallo dam whose construction he closely supervised.
As Isaias nears 80, many fear what could happen next.
An apparent attempt to groom his eldest son to succeed him was reportedly blocked at a 2018 cabinet meeting, since when no further meetings have been held.
But there is no obvious succession plan or a credible opposition in the country who could replace the current regime, leaving many to find it hard to imagine a future without Isaias.
“The president’s office is what’s holding the country from collapse,” warns Mr Zeraslasie.
During this year’s Easter holiday, Isaias was seen kissing a cross during a church mass in Asmara. Some believe he is seeking spiritual redemption, others hope he may release political prisoners.
For now, however, Isaias remains firmly in control, while Eritreans continue their long and anxious wait for change.
Getty Images/BBC
Airlines the world over are reporting a surge in business as tourists go traveling again. Carriers earned a total net profit of $32.4 billion last year, up 18% from the year before, while passenger numbers hit a new high of 4.8 billion.
In Southeast Asia, airlines like VietJet, Thai Airways, and Garuda Indonesia posted double-digit revenue growth last year. But the most impressive performance came not from a carrier, but rather a company that keeps its feet on the ground.
Singapore’s SATS, which provides an array of services including food preparation, air cargo handling and passenger services, tripled its revenue in 2024, lifting the company to No. 93, a jump of 134 places, on this year’s Southeast Asia 500. SATS’s 2024 revenue now stands at $3.8 billion. SATS was the biggest climber on this year’s list, not including newcomers.
Much of SATS’s revenue growth comes after its completed acquisition of Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a global air cargo logistics provider. SATS bought the company for 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion at current exchange rates) in a deal announced in early 2023.
SATS’s acquisition of WFS now makes the Asia-centric company much more of an international player. WFS is the world’s largest cargo handling firm, and is a major player in both Europe and the Americas.
A combined SATS-WFS has a combined reach of more than 215 locations worldwide, covering trade routes responsible for more than half of global air cargo volume.
SATS’s history stems back to the early days of commercial aviation in Singapore, starting as the ground division for Malayan Airlines. That airline later split into Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Malaysian Airline Systems. SIA then established its ground handling business as a separate business in 1972.
Now, SATS is the main air cargo, ground handling and inflight-catering services provider for Singapore’s largest civilian international airport, Changi Airport. SATS has since expanded its footprint throughout Asia, forming joint ventures in markets like mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
In its most recent financial report for the quarter ending March 2025, SATS reported a 13% jump in revenue year-on-year to reach 5.8 billion Singapore dollars ($4.53 billion at current exchange rates), driven by a growth in business volume and revenue contributions from its expanded network.
“Our cargo volumes have consistently outperformed IATA’s global growth benchmarks, demonstrating our ability to leverage our expanded network to secure new contracts,” SATS said in its annual report.
The company aims to hit 8 billion Singapore dollars ($6.2 billion) in revenue by the end of its 2029 fiscal year, thanks to a larger network, growth in Asia-Pacific passenger volumes, and Singapore’s role as an aviation hub.
new video loaded: Israel and Iran Continue to Exchange Attacks Into Thursday
transcript
transcript
“I’ve been traveling to Europe, but my flight has been canceled and I had to travel through a land border, and I’ve been traveling for 28 hours now. Probably need to travel another 24 hours to reach Istanbul because of the war situation. I come from Isfahan, and the situation in Iran is quite terrible now. I hope that this war ends soon.”
Recent episodes in Middle East Crisis
HarbourView Equity Partners is leading an $85 million investment in Animaj, a kids and family content-focused entertainment company.
Animaj uses proprietary GenAI production tools and what it calls a “multi-platform franchise-building model”.
The Paris-headquartered company says that it “acquires and scales high-potential IPs by using data-driven insights, automating animation pipelines through AI,” and then distributing that content to platforms like YouTube, Roblox, TikTok, Spotify.
Animaj reports to have a monthly global audience of 242 million unique viewers on YouTube, and claims to attract the “fifth-largest digital kids’ audience globally”.
HarbourView has invested in the company alongside French national investment fund Bpifrance.
The round was also joined by Bpifrance, Left Lane Capital, Daphni, XANGE, and Marquee.
New debt financing was provided by J.P. Morgan and Bootstrap Europe, bringing the total capital infusion to $85 million.
According to a press release, the new funding will be used to scale Animaj’s “AI-powered flywheel model” – which it describes as a “digital-first, multi-platform ecosystem spanning YouTube, Roblox, TikTok, Spotify, and FAST channels.”
The new capital will also “accelerate strategic IP acquisitions,” following Animaj’s purchase of the Pocoyo kids entertainment brand in 2023.
“With proven monetization, an experienced team, and a strong pipeline of strategic IP opportunities, they are poised to become a category-defining leader.”
Sherrese Clarke, HarbourView
“Animaj is reimagining children’s entertainment for the digital age,” said Sherrese Clarke, Founder and CEO of HarbourView Equity Partners.
“With proven monetization, an experienced team, and a strong pipeline of strategic IP opportunities, they are poised to become a category-defining leader. We’re thrilled to partner with the Animaj team as they scale globally.”
“Animaj is a new kind of media company: data-driven, AI-powered, digital-first but multiplatform by design.”
Sixte de Vauplane, Animaj
Sixte de Vauplane, Animaj Co-Founder & CEO, added: “We’re building something that’s never existed before. Animaj is a new kind of media company: data-driven, AI-powered, digital-first but multiplatform by design.
“We don’t start with a TV show and hope kids will come. We start with where they already are – YouTube, Roblox, TikTok, Spotify – and we build from there.”
“We are delighted to announce Bpifrance’s strategic investment in Animaj, a pioneering player in the use of AI for audiovisual production.”
José Gonzalo, Bpifrance
José Gonzalo, Executive Director, Bpifrance Direct Investment, said: “We are delighted to announce Bpifrance’s strategic investment in Animaj, a pioneering player in the use of AI for audiovisual production.
“Its co-founders, Sixte de Vauplane and Grégory Dray, bring an innovative approach that places AI at the core of their value proposition, with a strong focus on editorial quality and the goal of creating high-quality, educational kids & family’s content.
“We firmly believe in their vision and look forward to supporting the company’s growth and future success.”
The investment adds to HarbourView’s growing portfolio of media and IP assets, which spans film, television, music, and content companies such as Mucho Mas Media and MACRO.
Established in 2021 by former Tempo Music CEO Sherrese Clarke with backing from Apollo Global Management, HarbourView Equity Partners has acquired over 70 music catalogs encompassing over 35,000 songs across both master recordings and publishing income streams.
Earlier this month the company secured $500 million in additional debt financing from investment giant KKR, secured via a private securitization backed by its music portfolio.
This latest transaction follows a previous $500 million in debt financing secured by HarbourView in March 2024, through a private securitization backed by its catalog of music royalties, and led by KKR.
The company’s portfolio includes music from T-Pain, James Fauntleroy, George Benson, Noel Zancanella, Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie, Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, Nelly, Jeremih, Wiz Khalifa, Kane Brown, Full Force and more.
HarbourView reports to have amassed roughly $2.67 billion in regulatory assets under management.Music Business Worldwide
Lionel Messi hits late winner against Porto to push Inter Miami to verge of qualification at FIFA Club World Cup.
Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup with an exquisite free kick to inspire Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over two-time European champions Porto.
The Herons trailed 1-0 at the break, but Telasco Segovia tied it two minutes into the second half off a cross into the box from Marcelo Weigandt.
Then it was time for the 37-year-old Argentinian to add a trademark goal to a resume that already assures he’ll go down as one of the game’s greatest stars.
Samu Omorodion scored on a penalty kick in the opening minutes after a video review for the Portuguese club’s first goal of the tournament.
Both teams were held to scoreless draws in their opening Group A matches.
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano praised his side’s performance level against a side regarded as among the elite in Europe.
“We were working really, really hard against a team that have a lot of quality and a high level, but today, we showed to the world and to ourselves that we can compete against any team,” Inter’s Argentinean manager said.
“This match, the first half was very, very good, also. The players understood that they can do it. When we are together, when we are next to our teammates, we can do something amazing.”
Messi was taken down just outside the penalty area by Rodrigo Mora on a run down the middle of the field.
The crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was chanting “Messi!” Messi! Messi!” before his left-footed blast cleared the Porto wall and ripped the net in the top right corner in the 54th minute.
Inter Miami returns to South Florida on Monday, knowing a victory over Brazilian club Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium will lock up its spot in the Round of 16.
In desperate need of a win, Porto closes out group play against Egypt’s Al Ahly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.
Aneesh Veeravatnam from Simi Valley, California, has elected to remain in-state to swim and study at the University of California, Santa Barbara beginning next fall.
“I am extremely excited to announce my verbal commitment to UC Santa Barbara! I would like to thank Coach Jax, Coach Mark, and Coach Zach for giving me this opportunity to continue my academic and athletic journey at such a prestigious school. I would also like to thank all of my friends, teammates and coaches who have supported me along the way as I would be nowhere without them. lastly and most importantly I would like to thank my family for putting up with me for the past 16 years and loving me through both the highs and lows of my swimming and academic career. LETS GO GAUCHOS!!”
Veeravatnam is graduating from Royal High School where he competed four years with the varsity swim team. He does his year-round swimming with Canyons Aquatic Club. In high school swimming, he won the 100 fly and was runner-up in the 100 back at the 2025 CIF-Southern Section Division II Championships, clocking PBs in the 100 free (47.37 relay leadoff), 50 back (23.00 relay leadoff), 100 back (49.16), 50 fly (22.92 leadoff 50), and 100 fly (48.53). Two weeks later, he notched a PB in the 200 fly (1:47.72) the day before heading to the California CIF State Meet in Clovis. There, he placed 6th in the fly (48.91) and 14th in the back (49.84).
Veeravatnam kicked off long-course season at a Canyons meet over Memorial Day weekend, taking home lifetime bests in the 800 free, 100 breast, and 50 fly. At Southern California’s Juge Age Group Championships, he had significant drops in the 50 free (-1 second), 50 back (-.9), 100 back (-.8), 200 back (-1.9), 100 fly (-.5), and 200 fly (-.7). He now has Summer Juniors cuts in the 100/200m back in addition to his 200y fly.
Best times (SCY/LCM):
Veeravatnam’s best times would have placed him in the “A” finals of the 100 back (along with Gauchos Matt Driscoll, William Cussimanio, and Taisei Saito) and 200 fly (with Bryden Thielenhaus and Justin Wong), and the “B” finals of the 200 back and 100 fly, at the 2025 Big West Conference Championships. UC Santa Barbara won their inaugural BWC title this season, having moved from the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation at the start of 2024-25. Veeravatnam will join fellow Californians Seth Collet, Diego Castaneda, Henry Heit, and Lucas Hubbard in UCSB’s class of 2029.
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Most of the water on our planet dates back four and a half billion years, meaning it is older than the Sun. It’s even possible that the molecules of the water you drink today once supported the first amoebas, hydrated dinosaurs, or quenched the thirst of Alexander the Great’s armies.
This is because water is a finite resource, existing in a closed cycle on Earth. Like energy, it is neither created nor destroyed—it simply transforms. Today, we face the challenge of managing this cycle sustainably. To aid in this mission, we now turn to technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize its use and enhance purification processes.
In this article, you will discover how AI helps with:
Artificial intelligence has become a critical tool for managing the water cycle, optimizing every phase from collection to treatment and distribution. Its ability to analyze vast amounts of data in real-time boosts operational efficiency, minimizes waste, and helps predict issues like leaks or system overloads. Furthermore, AI contributes to more sustainable water use by lowering energy costs and enhancing water security in a world of rising demand and scarcity. Here are some of its most promising applications.
AI is revolutionizing water treatment by fine-tuning processes like chemical dosing and quality control. Systems automatically adjust parameters based on water conditions, improving operational efficiency. AI can also predict the presence of contaminants, allowing for quicker responses.
Moreover, it learns from historical data, anticipating changes in raw water quality—such as variations in turbidity or contaminant levels—and autonomously adjusts processes. This helps maintain consistent quality standards.
An example: The PRISTINE project, coordinated by ACCIONA, coordinated by ACCIONA, which developed virtual sensors (Soft Sensors) that estimate emerging contaminant concentrations (ECC) in real time. Previously, this was only possible in labs. Installed on an Edge device at the pilot plant, it uses data like flow, pH, and turbidity to automatically adjust treatment processes, keeping pace with growing ECC regulations without lab intervention.
AI boosts the efficiency of wastewater treatment by automating processes and predicting potential issues. It analyzes both historical and real-time data to optimize energy and chemical use. AI can detect anomalies in sewage networks, preventing blockages and overloads, which reduces environmental impact. This allows treatment plants to recover resources like reusable water and biogas more effectively while cutting costs.
An example: Severn Trent Water in the UK has implemented AI to optimize wastewater flow and prevent overflows. The system forecasts weather conditions, adjusts pumping stations accordingly, and controls water flow to minimize the risk of flooding.
Water leaks cause significant resource losses. AI systems monitor pressure and flow in real-time, allowing for early leak detection. Predictive algorithms analyze historical data to forecast potential future leaks, enabling companies to take preventive action. This not only prevents water loss but also reduces the cost of unexpected repairs, improving overall network efficiency.
An example: In the US, the Hydro-Logic CivilSense project combines skilled field teams with advanced AI to monitor and detect leaks with 93% accuracy. The goal is to reduce unbilled water losses and operating costs in aging supply systems.
AI is essential for efficiently managing water resources, predicting demand based on factors like climate, population, and agriculture. Algorithms optimize water distribution to prevent waste and ensure efficient usage. This is particularly crucial in water-scarce areas, where AI helps maximize availability for agriculture, industry, and urban use by better managing reservoirs and irrigation systems.
An example: In California, AI is used to predict water demand in both agricultural and urban areas, adjusting distribution based on climate and population factors. This is especially important in regions prone to drought.
Water pumping is one of the most energy-intensive tasks in water management. AI can optimize pumping schedules by predicting demand and adjusting operations to off-peak times, reducing energy consumption without compromising water availability. Additionally, smart systems can optimize pumping routes, which not only cuts operational costs but also reduces the carbon footprint of water management.
An example: The DIGIDEL project addresses challenges in desalination and water treatment with advanced AI algorithms. Under the RELEWAT initiative, Reinforcement Learning algorithms are used to optimize energy consumption in pumping wells, allowing them to adjust supply according to fluctuating demand and energy costs.systems, allows wells to adapt supply according to water demand and energy variations.
These applications are just the beginning of how AI will enhance sustainability in the water cycle. If you would like to explore more about the potential of AI and new technologies in biodiversity, check out this article.
Sources:
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Donald Trump has said there could be new talks with Iran in the “near future” and that he would decide whether to join Israel’s attack on the country “within the next two weeks”.
The statement by the US president on Thursday appeared to signal that he was slowing down his decision about entering the war, even as American military assets speed to the region amid fears of an imminent escalation.
“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,” the president said in a statement read by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday.
Leavitt also confirmed that the US had kept open its negotiations with Tehran during days of missile exchanges between Iran and Israel.
“Correspondence has continued,” Leavitt said in response to a question about whether Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff had been in contact with Iranian officials.
The comments from the US came after seven days of conflict, which began when Israel launched an attack on Iran in what it said was a bid to destroy the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme.
The US has assisted Israel in shooting down Iranian missiles fired at its ally and the Pentagon is rushing more military assets to the region, with speculation mounting that Trump was preparing to authorise bombing raids to hit Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility.
On Wednesday, Trump said he was considering strikes within days. “The next week is going to be very big — maybe less than a week,” he said.
The possibility of more US-Iran negotiations comes as Britain, France and Germany prepared to hold talks with Iran’s foreign minister on Friday in Geneva, as part of the last-ditch push effort to prevent escalation of the conflict.
“It’s better dealt with by way of negotiations than by way of conflict . . . The risk of escalation across the region is obvious,” UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Thursday. He added that the UK “completely” recognised Israel’s right to self-defence, “but the principle is that we need to de-escalate this”.
European capitals have stepped up contingency plans for the US entering the conflict since Trump acknowledged on Wednesday he “may” enter the war.
The UK government confirmed that David Lammy, UK foreign secretary, would attend the meeting in Geneva, after holding talks with Marco Rubio, his US counterpart, in Washington on Thursday.
The gathering in Geneva with Iran’s Abbas Araghchi is a revival of the “E3” format, under which Britain, France and Germany — the European signatories to a 2015 nuclear accord Tehran signed with world powers — have sought to resolve the country’s stand-off with the west.
The aim of the meeting would be to agree a framework to restart monitoring of Iran’s nuclear programme, but with international monitors granted unfettered access to facilities. Another issue on the table will be whether Iran would be willing to make a commitment to cut its ballistic missile stockpile.
A crisis over Iran’s nuclear programme erupted after Trump unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018. Tehran responded by expanding its activity and has been enriching uranium to levels close to weapons grade, although it says its nuclear programme is purely for civilian purposes.
The Trump administration held five rounds of indirect talks with Iran before the diplomatic process was upended by Israel launching its strikes on Friday — days before a sixth round of negotiations was scheduled.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who opposes the diplomatic efforts, said he launched the war to prevent Tehran developing nuclear weapons.
Iran’s foreign ministry confirmed that Araghchi will meet his British, French and German counterparts, the first high-level face-to-face diplomacy with Tehran since Israel launched its attacks on Iran.
French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot told journalists on Thursday: “We have expressed our willingness to take part in negotiations aimed at securing from Iran a lasting rollback of its nuclear programme and its ballistic missile programme.”
He said: “Negotiation remains today the only way to achieve a lasting rollback of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme.”
The E3, which was heavily involved in efforts with the Biden administration to revive the 2015 accord, had been largely marginalised by Trump as he sought to pressure Iran into a new deal.
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