Gaza ceasefire negotiations and Hezbollah split over disarming
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The National
3 hours ago
- The National
Katz says Israel plans to move 600,000 Gazans to 'humanitarian' city on Rafah's ruins
Truce talks make headway but divisions remain between Israel and Hamas Israeli army strikes Yemen ports after ship attack in Red Sea US envoy 'unbelievably satisfied' with Lebanon's response to plan to disarm Hezbollah Israeli army captures Iran-linked 'terrorist' cell in Syria At least 57,523 Palestinians killed and 136,617 wounded since Gaza war began
The National
8 hours ago
- The National
Iran 'ready to hold talks' with US over nuclear programme, Pezeshkian says
Iran is ready to resume talks with the US over the future of its nuclear programme, President Masoud Pezeshkian has said, adding that Israel had 'torpedoed the negotiating table'. Speaking to American journalist Tucker Carlson in an interview that aired on Monday, Mr Pezeshkian noted that while Iran was willing to return to allowing supervision of its programme, its nuclear infrastructure was 'severely damaged' by recent US strikes. 'We don't have any access to them,' he said. 'We have to wait for it and to see what happens and how much they have been damaged, so that we can go for the supervision.' Iran and the US had been in the process of negotiating a new deal to put limits on Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. President Donald Trump withdrew from the original deal during his first term, but expressed his desire earlier this year to come to a new agreement. The two sides had held several rounds of indirect talks in Muscat and Rome, with Oman as mediator, when Israel launched a 'pre-emptive' strike on Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Mr Pezeshkian said the US team told Iran during the negotiations that 'as long as we don't give the permission to Israel, they are not going to attack you'. 'We were sitting at the negotiating table when it happened, and by doing this, they totally ruined and destroyed diplomacy,' he said, accusing Israel of attempting to drag the US into 'forever wars'. 'How are we going to trust the United States again? We re-enter the negotiations, then how can we know for sure that in the middle of the talks, the Israeli regime will not be given the permission again to attack?' Still, the President said Iran was 'ready to hold talks over' the future of the nuclear programme. 'We have never been the party that has run away from verification. We stand ready to have these supervisions,' he said.' Carlson pointed out that Mr Pezeshkian had approved a law suspending co-operation with the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. The agency is responsible for monitoring Iran's nuclear programme amid concerns that it is trying to build a nuclear weapon – something Tehran has continuously denied. Mr Pezeshkian said Iranians were 'pessimistic' about the activities of the IAEA following a report that he claims gave Israel the excuse to attack Iran's nuclear facilities. 'The IAEA failed to condemn these attacks or try to anyway to stop them. And this ran counter to the international law, and this resulted in a widespread lack of trust among the Iranians,' he said. The US has condemned Iran's move to stop co-operating with the IAEA. With regard to the US and future relations, Mr Pezeshkian emphasised the need for Washington to respect Iran's rights. 'I believe that the United States' President can very well guide the region and the world to peace and tranquillity, or, on the other hand, to lead it to forever wars,' he said.
The National
9 hours ago
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Unicef head and former world leaders on judging panel for UAE humanitarian award
A senior UN official championing the rights of children across the globe and two former heads of state will help select the next winners of a major UAE humanitarian award. The $1 million Zayed Award for Human Fraternity – which celebrates the philanthropic legacy of UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan – shines a light on the efforts of organisations and people around the world seeking to effect change and improve lives. The award was launched on February 4, 2019, in recognition of a milestone meeting in Abu Dhabi between the late Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Ahmed Al Tayeb. The expert judging panel for the seventh annual award in 2026 was unveiled on Monday and has been praised for representing the 'global mission of the award'. The six members of the 2026 jury are Catherine Russell, executive director of the UN children's fund (Unicef); Charles Michel, former president of the European Council and former prime minister of Belgium; Moussa Faki Mahamat, former chairman of the African Union Commission and former prime minister of Chad; Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education at the Holy See; and judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, secretary general of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 'This year's judging committee members hail from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas – and represent various fields including humanitarian aid to children, diplomacy, culture, education, media, and law,' said Mr Abdelsalam. 'This richly diverse jury of influential figures truly represents the global mission of the award, and we look forward to honouring individuals and entities who are serving humanity, reflecting the late Sheikh Zayed's legacy of humanitarianism rooted in extending support to all, without distinction.' The prize recognises the efforts of high-profile figures and grassroots campaigners alike, with previous winners including the late Pope Francis, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan, as well as charitable foundations offering a helping hand to the needy from Haiti to Kenya and beyond. To date, 16 winners drawn from 15 countries have been honoured in the six-year history of the award. Nominations for this year's award are open until October 1. World Central Kitchen (WCK) was named among this year's winners of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity. The non-profit organisation was praised for its work in delivering food relief to communities suffering from humanitarian crises and natural disasters. The climate change champion and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, and the 15-year-old 'health innovator' Heman Bekele are also previous winners of the award.
