
‘Act of self-defence, nothing to do with Qatar': Iran defends US military base strike
In a statement shared on X, Esmaeil Baqaei expressed Iran's commitment to good neighbourly policy with Qatar and other friendly nations.
'Iran's military strikes on the American military base 'Al-Udeid' were in exercise of our self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter in response to the United States' unprovoked aggression against Iran's territorial integrity and national sovereignty that took place on 22 June 2025. This act of self-defence had nothing to do with our friendly neighbour Qatar, as we enjoy excellent and deeply rooted relationships,' Baqaei posted on X.
'Iran remains fully committed to its good-neighbourliness policy concerning the State of Qatar and other neighbouring countries. We resolve not to let U.S./Israeli criminal aggressions and malign policies against Iran create division between us and the brotherly countries of the region,' he added.
Hashtags

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


Mint
36 minutes ago
- Mint
Trump secures trade deal with EU, slashes tariffs to 15%; lands $750 billion energy deal and $600 billion investment
The United States and the European Union have reached a last-minute trade agreement that will impose a 15% tariff on EU goods entering the US, replacing the previously threatened 30% rate. The deal, reached just ahead of the August 1 deadline, was announced by President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after a high-stakes meeting at Trump's Turnberry golf resort in Scotland. 'It was a very interesting negotiation. I think it's going to be great for both parties,' Trump said. President Trump noted the long-standing friction in trade relations between the US and Europe, saying: "We've had a hard time with trade with Europe, a very hard time.' 'I think the main sticking point is fairness.' Under the deal, the US will impose a baseline 15% tariff on EU exports — the same level Japan recently agreed to — including autos, which were previously taxed at 25%. 'We are agreeing that the tariff straight across, for automobiles and everything else, will be a straight across tariff of 15 percent," Trump confirmed. As part of the agreement, the EU has committed to purchasing $750 billion worth of US energy and investing $600 billion more into the American economy. Trump called the outcome 'a good deal for everybody,' while von der Leyen added: 'It will bring stability. It will bring predictability. That's very important for our businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.' The agreement reportedly mirrors the recent .S-Japan deal announced earlier in the week, which also featured a 15% import duty and avoided previously threatened higher tariffs. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasised the urgency to push both sides to reach a consensus: 'No extensions, no more grace periods. August 1, the tariffs are set, they'll go into place, Customs will start collecting the money and off we go.' With EU trade deal sealed, six countries including — Britain, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan — have reached agreements with the Trump administration ahead of the upcoming Friday deadline, as the US moves to reshape the global free trade framework by imposing tariffs on nations it accuses of unfair trade practices. While the tariffs agreed upon by these countries are generally higher than the 10 percent base rate the US has applied to most nations since April, they remain significantly lower than the steep rates the Trump administration had threatened if no deals were secured.


India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
No Entry For GM Crops, Says New Delhi; India-US Trade Talks Hit A Sacred Wall
New Delhi: Genetically modified (GM) crops will not be crossing India's borders anytime soon, no matter how urgently the United States knocks. As trade negotiations between New Delhi and Washington enter a crucial phase, insiders say one red line is not up for discussion. 'There are things that are not about negotiation. Some things are a matter of principle,' said a senior official close to the development. That principle, sources say, is GM corn and soy. While American negotiators have made agricultural access a central demand, pressing India for a wider entry gate for U.S. farm goods, New Delhi is not blinking, especially on GM imports. Over the years, the issue has mutated from a mere trade disagreement into a symbolic fight over sovereignty, food safety and grassroots politics. The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has repeatedly flagged India's restrictions on GM products, calling them 'non-tariff barriers'. But Indian authorities remain unmoved, largely because of the hardline stance taken by domestic groups closely aligned with the ruling establishment. Last month, the message from Sangh affiliates was if America insists on forcing GM crops into the Indian market, there may be no trade deal at all. Carried in Business Standard, that warning echoed the sentiments of influential groups such as the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) and the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), which have long opposed agricultural concessions to Washington, particularly in sectors like dairy and GM crops. Their argument? Food security. The BKS has often warned that allowing U.S. crops into India, especially without clear labelling or transparency, could sabotage domestic farming ecosystems and compromise health safety standards. On the other hand, the SJM sees this as a direct attack on economic self-reliance. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. U.S. officials have privately hinted at the urgency of the moment, pointing to a deadline set by President Donald Trump, who is seeking a revival of his trade agenda. Trump has marked August 1 as a red-letter day. If no interim deal is inked by then, India could be hit with reciprocal tariffs, potentially as high as 26 percent. Indian trade negotiators are not indifferent to that pressure. But according to officials involved in the process, the sixth round of talks will only happen in the second half of August after Trump's deadline expires. Any hope for a short-term resolution seems, at best, unrealistic. As one official put it, 'We are not looking at compromise in areas that touch the lives of millions.' In other words, GM corn is off the table. And perhaps, so is the deal, at least for now.


Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Trump on Gaza talks collapse and Hamas hostage standoff: ‘I know what I'd do... but Israel is going to make a decision'
US President Donald Trump on Sunday said Israel is now facing a critical moment as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas have broken down. He emphasised that the Israeli government will soon have to 'make a decision' on how to proceed in Gaza. 'They [Hamas] don't want to give [the hostages] back,' Trump told reporters in Scotland. 'And so Israel is going to have to make a decision.' Trump added: 'I know what I'd do, but I don't think it's appropriate that I say. But Israel is going to make a decision.' The President also highlighted ongoing US aid efforts to Gaza, lamenting the lack of international recognition. 'We gave $60 million two weeks ago for food, for Gaza,' Trump said. 'And nobody acknowledged it, nobody talks about it. It makes you feel a little bad when you do that, and you have other countries not giving anything.' Trump said some of his own supporters criticised him for providing aid to Palestinians, but he defended the move. 'There is a humanitarian reason for doing it,' he said. 'Will I do more aid? Yeah. The US is going to do more aid for Gaza but we would like to have other countries participate.' Trump claimed that without American assistance, conditions in Gaza would have deteriorated further. 'If we weren't there, I think people would have starved, frankly,' he said. 'They would have starved and it's not like they're eating well.' Trump called on other nations to contribute to humanitarian efforts in Gaza and expressed frustration at the lack of acknowledgment from the international community. 'It would be nice to at least have a 'thank you,'' he said. Trump's comments come as Israel faces growing criticism over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Over the weekend, Israel approved humanitarian airdrops and announced plans to establish corridors for United Nations convoys to distribute supplies. Earlier ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas collapsed last week, leaving the future of hostages and regional stability uncertain.