No specific date set for nuclear talks with U.S., says Iran
'For now, no specific date, time or location has been determined regarding this matter,' said Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei of plans for a meeting between Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
Also read: Trump says Iran has 'second chance' to come to nuclear deal as Israel and Iran exchange blows
Mr. Araghchi and Mr. Witkoff met starting in April, without concluding a deal after five rounds of talks, which were the highest-level contact between their two countries since Washington abandoned a landmark nuclear agreement in 2018.
The Omani-mediated negotiations were halted as Israel launched surprise strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities on June 13, starting a 12-day war which the United States later joined.
'We have been serious in diplomacy and the negotiation process, we entered with good faith, but as everyone witnessed, before the sixth round, the Zionist regime, in coordination with the United States, committed military aggression against Iran', Mr. Baqaei said.
Israel and Western nations accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran has consistently denied.
While it is the only non-nuclear power to enrich uranium to 60% purity, close to the level needed for a warhead, the UN's atomic energy watchdog has said it had no indication that Iran was working to weaponise its stockpiles.
Also read: Iran says it has not requested U.S. talks since war
Israel's offensive last month, which it said was aimed at thwarting a nuclear threat from the Islamic republic, killed nuclear scientists and top-ranking military officers as well as hitting military, nuclear and other sites and residential areas. The United States launched its own set of strikes against Iran's nuclear programme on June 22, hitting the uranium enrichment facility at Fordo, in Qom province south of Tehran, as well as nuclear sites in Isfahan and Natanz.
The extent of the damage from the strikes remains unknown, and Baqaei said it was 'still under investigation'. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and attacked a US base in Qatar in retaliation for Washington's strikes.
Sanctions
Mr. Baqaei said on Monday (July 14, 2025) that Iran remains in contact with Britain, France, and Germany, the three European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal that the United States later withdrew from.
The Europeans have threatened to trigger the 'snapback' mechanism under the 2015 agreement, which allows the reimposition of UN sanctions in the event of non-compliance.
Mr. Baqaei said Tehran was 'in continuous contact with these three countries' but added that he 'cannot provide an exact date' for the next meeting with them.
There was 'no legal, moral or political basis' for reimposing sanctions, according to Baqaei, as Iran was still committed to the 2015 agreement.
Also read: Iran says to submit own nuclear proposal to U.S. soon
The Ministry spokesman added that such a move would be met with an 'appropriate and proportionate' response, following Iranian threats to quit the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
After the United States pulled out of the nuclear accord during Donald Trump's first term as President, Iran began rolling back its commitments to the agreement that restricts its atomic activities in return for sanctions relief.
'The Islamic Republic of Iran still considers itself a member of the JCPOA,' Baqaei said of the 2015 deal.
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India's military capabilities, overall approach to national security, international standing, a full U-turn to paint India as a strong and decisive nation, and broader geopolitical and regional security implications are all part of this new discourse on India. Indian military's precision, professionalism, and the doctrine of SEAD (Suppression of Enemy's Air Defences) have come in for a special mention with awe and admiration from various quarters. The role of locally manufactured military hardware and its effectiveness has made most nations to sit up and take note. In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, India's aggressive diplomatic manoeuvring internationally against terror has been unprecedented. India has been very successful in balancing relations with global powers like USA, Russia, China and other nations, including Islamic nations, on its own terms. 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SCO Meeting 2025: India refused to sign the joint document after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Shanghai. The joint document, drafted by China, failed to address concerns about terrorism. It mentioned the Balochistan train hijacking incident but did not include the Pahalgam terrorist attack at the behest of Pakistan. In the end, there was no joint statement. QUAD Meeting 2025: India was very emphatic on its stand on terror and the fight against terror. This was obvious in the joint statement which read as follows: 'The Quad unequivocally condemns all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and renews our commitment to counterterrorism cooperation. We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, while injuring several others.' 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Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Time of India
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Once perceived as a non-Western alliance, BRICS is now positioning itself as the voice of emerging markets and developing countries (EMDCs), firmly rooted in the priorities of the Global South. PM Modi has aptly called for redefining the acronym BRICS so as not to indicate the initials of the five core members but to convey a shared functional purpose of 'Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability.' This captures the group's evolving identity. A significant aspect of the Joint Declaration was its open criticism of indiscriminate use of tariffs and proliferation of trade-restrictive actions- moves largely attributed to Western economic policies. It also condemned the attack on Iran and called for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, but did not follow the Iranian line on Israel. This assertiveness reflects BRICS's increasing willingness to challenge the status quo, advocating for a fairer and more inclusive trade system. Its call for reform of global financial institutions like the World Bank and the IMF, long seen as instruments of the West, further illustrates this shift. The group's stress on multilateralism and international law was aimed at ensuring increased participation of the Global South in global decision-making processes and structures. It perceives 'the Global South as a driver of positive change.' It called for strengthening efforts to promote dialogue and consultations in pursuit of more just and equitable global governance, and of mutually beneficial relations among nations. On climate change, the group stressed that developed countries must step up with more grant-based, concessional finance, separate from existing aid, to help developing nations meet their climate goals without sacrificing poverty reduction and development priorities. The declaration covered the need for reforming the international financial architecture and stressed to enhance cooperation on all pillars of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This stance rightly insists that climate responsibilities must not come at the expense of development and poverty alleviation. It is a reminder that climate justice and equity are inseparable. On terrorism, the Joint Declaration expressed 'strong condemnation of any acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed.' It condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, during which 26 people were killed and many more injured, while reaffirming its commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, terrorism financing and safe havens- a notable move for a diverse group with differing views on counterterrorism. Prime Minister Modi's strong remarks, indirectly aimed at Pakistan and China, highlighted the need for action against cross-border terrorism and the obstruction of sanctions against listed terrorists. While BRICS avoided the logjam on countering terrorism, unlike what happened at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), China's reluctance to support this issue would remain problematic. Diplomatically, the summit showcased BRICS's ability to bridge internal divides and issue a coherent and unified statement, no small feat for a grouping with such varying national interests. Its handling of the Israel-Palestine issue, calling for a two-state solution while not aligning completely with Iran, exemplifies the group's growing maturity in international diplomacy. In sum, the 17th Summit of BRICS indicates its transformation into a strong platform for the Global South. Its expansion has strengthened its legitimacy, and its assertive tone on global economic and political issues reflects a newfound confidence. If it can manage its differences, particularly on terrorism, it is poised to emerge as a credible counterweight to the West-led global governance system. The road ahead will be complex and difficult, but the message from Brazil is unmistakable: BRICS is no longer just watching from the sidelines. It is going to play an important role in managing global affairs. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
