Peter Barabas
Armenia
Pashinyan moves to defuse Russia tensions ahead of crucial vote
With the latest polls showing him on course for a landslide victory on Sunday, PM Nikol Pashinyan told Armenians – and Russia – that he is seeking a balanced yet sovereign approach to his foreign policy, as Russia continued to exert pressure by imposing more sanctions ahead of the crucial vote.
Iran
Trump says he halted Israel's offensive, keeps door open to Iran talks
The US president further eased tensions sparked by Tehran's announcement on Monday of an end to mediated negotiations, saying in a separate post on Truth Social that talks with the Islamic Republic continued "at a rapid pace".
Iran
Iran suspended negotiations via mediators with US, state media says
Iran has suspended all indirect talks with the US and announced it would pursue "complete closure of Strait of Hormuz," accusing Israel of "continuing crimes" in Lebanon and stating that any ceasefire breach on one front breaks the truce in general.
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Armenia
Russia pulls Armenia envoy over EU ties days before decisive elections
Moscow has escalated pressure on Yerevan ahead of the 7 June elections, including trade bans, EAEU suspension warnings and a Putin drawing parallels between Armenia and Ukraine, days after Trump gave Pashinyan his "complete and total endorsement".
Armenia
Trump endorses Pashinyan ahead of Armenia’s high-stakes elections
Trump endorsed PM Pashinyan by calling on Armenians to “Make Armenia Great Again“ ahead of the decisive June elections. The US and EU’s support for Armenia’s pro-West course and Russia's mounting economic pressure to counter Pashinyan mark the geopolitical juncture.
Iran
Trump says agreement to end Iran war 'largely negotiated'
The US president announced on his Truth Social platform on Saturday that a deal with Tehran to end the Iran war was "largely negotiated" subject to approval, ending speculation over the possible resumption of strikes against Iran and broader conflict in the region.
World News
Pashinyan says Karabakh 'was not ours' as Armenia and Azerbaijan look to future
In an extraordinary admission, Armenia’s PM Nikol Pashinyan declared that Karabakh was not Armenia’s territory and that the Armenian movement for it was “a fatal mistake,” as Yerevan forges its peace with Azerbaijan and its decisive pro-EU course.
Europe News
EU pursues 'deeper' Gulf partnerships, Costa tells Euronews in Doha
In the highest-level EU visit to the Gulf since the Iran war started, European Council President Antonio Costa reinforced the EU’s strategic partnerships with the Gulf states and pushed for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, warning of “disastrous consequences”.
Iran
Hormuz standoff turns into cautious waiting game as US blockade begins
Trump claims Iran made new contact for a deal, as the first hours of the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz show an apparent cautious approach from all sides as the fragile ceasefire is still holding. But China announces its own shipping transit agreement with Iran, warning the US not to interfere.
Iran
Confusion reigns over Hormuz reopening as Iran issues new conditions
Normal shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has not yet resumed as per the ceasefire deal, as Iran consolidates its hardline, unilateral position on lifting its blockade in apparent contradiction of the rollercoaster ceasefire deal.
Iran
Israel hits Basij top echelon as militia uses schools to evade strikes
The IDF said it killed Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani in Tehran, as Iran’s security forces behind brutal repression of protests are accused of using schools and their own children as a deterrent, fearing Israeli forces using social media posts to geolocate and strike their positions.
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