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India Holds Firm on Agriculture as US Trade Deadline Approaches
India has adopted a firmer stance on protecting its agricultural and dairy sectors as negotiators in Washington edge closer to a crucial July 9 deadline to avert a tariff escalation. The Indian delegation, led by Special Secretary Rajesh Agrawal of the Department of Commerce, has extended its stay beyond initial...
Cleric Declares Trump and Netanyahu “Enemies of God” Fatwa
A powerful Shiite religious decree from Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has designated US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “enemies of God,” urging Muslims worldwide to unite and confront both leaders. The fatwa, issued on 30 June 2025, warns that any threats against Iran’s...
Tehran Silence Hinges on Conditional Truce Promise
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Tehran will abide by the ceasefire declared by US President Donald Trump, pledging not to breach it unless Israel does so first. Pezeshkian made the statement during a phone call with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, emphasising Iran’s commitment to peace conditional on Israel’s...
India Dismisses Pakistan’s Accusation Over Waziristan Blast
At least 13 Pakistani soldiers were killed and more than two dozen people, including civilians, injured when a suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden vehicle into a military convoy in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan on Saturday lunchtime. The Pakistan Army swiftly issued a statement attributing the attack...
India rejects Hague arbitration court ruling on Indus Water Treaty
India has strongly rejected the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague over two hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir saying it has never recognised the so-called framework for dispute resolution with Pakistan. Pakistan on Saturday welcomed the ruling and indicated its readiness for talks with...
US President Signals Major Trade Pact with India on the Horizon
US President Donald Trump disclosed at a White House event on 26 June that, following the signing of a trade deal with China, he is now turning attention to a “very big” agreement with India. Speaking in the East Room during a ceremony promoting a government spending bill, Trump...
Trump Again Boasts Stopping India‑Pakistan Conflict
US President Donald Trump asserted on 25 June in The Hague that he had prevented a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan through a series of phone calls, warning both governments that any resumption of hostilities would derail lucrative US trade deals. He described the situation as “the most...
Missile Strike on Israel Despite Ceasefire Accord
Three residents of Be’er Sheva were killed when an Iranian missile struck a residential building early Tuesday, even as a US-brokered ceasefire was announced by President Donald Trump. The attack shattered fragile hopes of ending the 12-day cross-border fire exchange that has exacted a heavy toll on both Iran...
Trilateral Clash Transforms West Asia’s Strategic Landscape
A direct military confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States has unequivocally escalated, signalling a pivotal shift in West Asia’s long-enduring shadow war. Precision airstrikes by Israel, followed by coordinated U.S. raids on key nuclear and military targets in Iran—including facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan—have reshaped the...
US Forces Strike Iran’s Underground Nuclear Sites
U.S. military aircraft and naval assets struck three of Iran’s principal nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan—just after midnight local time on 22 June 2025, deploying bunker-busting munitions and cruise missiles. President Donald Trump described the operation as a “spectacular military success,” claiming that the sites had been “completely and...
Tharoor Embarks on New Diplomatic Push for India Abroad
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has departed on a fortnight‑long diplomatic mission to Moscow, marking a second phase of parliamentary outreach that includes visits to the UK and potentially Greece. The initiative follows his leadership of a multi‑nation delegation intended to articulate India’s position following the April 22 Pahalgam terror...
Cluster Missile Launch Signposts Deadlier Phase in Israel–Iran War
Israeli military confirms Iran has deployed a missile carrying cluster submunitions over central Israel in a deliberate attempt to inflict civilian harm. The launch, which occurred mid‑air at about 7 km altitude, released around 20 smaller bomblets across a radius of approximately 8 km over populated areas, officials said. The incident...
Diplomacy Amidst Bombardment Draws US, Iran Closer
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi have engaged in several direct phone discussions since Israel escalated air strikes against Iranian targets beginning 13 June, according to three diplomats. Intended to reduce regional tensions, these calls represent the most sustained direct communication between Washington and...
White House Hosts Pak Army Chief Amid South Asia, Middle East Crisis
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir to the White House on Wednesday, holding a closed-door lunch that spotlighted Washington’s deepening engagement in South Asia and unfolding tensions in the Middle East. Trump praised Munir’s role in averting a potentially catastrophic clash between India and...
Modi Denies US Role in Ceasefire During Trump Call
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with US President Donald Trump for 35 minutes on 18 June, emphasising that the ceasefire between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor was negotiated directly between the two nations. Modi explicitly rejected Washington’s assertion of brokering the ceasefire, stating no mediation, no trade discussions and...
US Embassy in Tel Aviv Damaged in Iran’s Missile Barrage
Tel Aviv suffered a significant blow on June 16 when Iran launched a large-scale missile and drone attack that shook central Israel, shattered windows at the US Embassy branch, and injured numerous civilians. With no American casualties, the incident marks the first direct impact on a US diplomatic facility...
Escalation in Israel–Iran Conflict Sparks Diplomatic Overtures Through Gulf Mediators
Iran has formally sought intervention by Oman and Qatar to convey to the United States that Tehran is open to negotiations—linking any ceasefire to renewed nuclear diplomacy. According to Israeli and regional officials, Saudi Arabia is also engaging discreetly to support a de-escalation initiative. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi,...
