Abdollahian Points to ‘Initiatives’ to Resume Nuclear Negotiations

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Al-Busaidi received his Iranian counterpart and his accompanying delegation, in Muscat on Wednesday. (Oman News)
Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Al-Busaidi received his Iranian counterpart and his accompanying delegation, in Muscat on Wednesday. (Oman News)
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Abdollahian Points to ‘Initiatives’ to Resume Nuclear Negotiations

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Al-Busaidi received his Iranian counterpart and his accompanying delegation, in Muscat on Wednesday. (Oman News)
Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Al-Busaidi received his Iranian counterpart and his accompanying delegation, in Muscat on Wednesday. (Oman News)

Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Hossein Abdollahian announced on Wednesday that his country had heard ideas regarding negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear deal on Iran, expressing his gratitude for the constructive role of the Sultan of Oman and its sincere intentions in this regard.
 
On the second day of his visit to Oman, which he concluded on Wednesday before heading to Beirut, Abdollahian said that Muscat “always plays a constructive role” in the nuclear talks, adding: “We have held the necessary consultations in this context.”
 
Later on Wednesday, the Omani News Agency quoted Abdollahian as saying that the Sultanate has “serious initiatives” regarding the Iranian nuclear program that “will contribute” to the revival of negotiations.
 
Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Omani and Iranian foreign ministers discussed a number of regional and international issues, and stressed the continuation of “consultation and support for all efforts aimed at consolidating security and stability in the region and encouraging dialogue and peaceful ways to resolve differences.”
 
The Iranian minister pointed to the role of Oman in facilitating the Iranian-Saudi talks and praised its efforts in mediating regional dialogues.

He also welcomed the constructive efforts made by Oman with regard to Yemen, expressing hope that those would lead to the consolidation of peace in the region.
 
Abdollahian continued: “The Islamic Republic of Iran, within the framework of its neighborhood policy and its respect for the principle of good neighborliness, welcomes the restoration of relations with Saudi Arabia and considers this matter to serve the interests of the region.”
 
The two sides also discussed the security developments in the region.

“We have made great progress in the field of energy and cooperation… as well as in trade, economy and investment. Very good matters have happened, and we hope that we will be able to complete them during the upcoming visit of the Sultan of Oman to Tehran,” the Iranian minister said.
 
Iranian sources expect Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, who received an invitation from the Iranian president, to visit Tehran in May. In June 2022, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi paid a one-day visit to Muscat.



France's Navy Intercepts an Oil Tanker in the Mediterranean Sailing from Russia

FILE PHOTO: Tugboat escorts French Navy frigate Vendemiaire on arrival for a 5-day goodwill visit at a port in Metro Manila, Philippines March 12, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco/File Photo P
FILE PHOTO: Tugboat escorts French Navy frigate Vendemiaire on arrival for a 5-day goodwill visit at a port in Metro Manila, Philippines March 12, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco/File Photo P
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France's Navy Intercepts an Oil Tanker in the Mediterranean Sailing from Russia

FILE PHOTO: Tugboat escorts French Navy frigate Vendemiaire on arrival for a 5-day goodwill visit at a port in Metro Manila, Philippines March 12, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco/File Photo P
FILE PHOTO: Tugboat escorts French Navy frigate Vendemiaire on arrival for a 5-day goodwill visit at a port in Metro Manila, Philippines March 12, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco/File Photo P

France’s Navy, working with intelligence provided by the United Kingdom, on Thursday intercepted an oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea that traveled from Russia, in a mission targeting the sanctioned Russian shadow fleet, officials said, Reuters reported.

French maritime authorities for the Mediterranean said the ship, the Grinch, is suspected of operating with a false flag.

The French Navy is escorting the ship to port for more checks, the statement said.


Zelensky Says Meeting with Trump in Davos was 'Very Good'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to wounded Ukrainian soldiers during a visit at Staten Island University Hospital, in New York, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023. (AP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to wounded Ukrainian soldiers during a visit at Staten Island University Hospital, in New York, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023. (AP)
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Zelensky Says Meeting with Trump in Davos was 'Very Good'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to wounded Ukrainian soldiers during a visit at Staten Island University Hospital, in New York, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023. (AP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to wounded Ukrainian soldiers during a visit at Staten Island University Hospital, in New York, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023. (AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had a "very good" meeting with US President Donald Trump in Davos on Thursday.

"We spoke about documents and about air defense," Zelensky told reporters briefly without elaborating before addressing the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort.

Zelenskiy also said he ​discussed progress on peace talks.

"We discussed the work of our teams, and practically every there are meetings ⁠or communication," Zelenskiy ‌wrote on X, adding ‍that ‍the documents ‍being negotiated by Kyiv and Washington were "now even better prepared".

"Our ​previous meeting with President Trump helped ⁠strengthen the protection of our skies, and I hope that this time we will reinforce it further as well."


France Says Won't Join Peace Board for Now, Partly Contrary to UN Charter

France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a ministerial meeting on the implementation of the Middle East peace plan at the Quai d'Orsay, in Paris, France October 9, 2025. Thomas Samson/Pool via REUTERS
France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a ministerial meeting on the implementation of the Middle East peace plan at the Quai d'Orsay, in Paris, France October 9, 2025. Thomas Samson/Pool via REUTERS
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France Says Won't Join Peace Board for Now, Partly Contrary to UN Charter

France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a ministerial meeting on the implementation of the Middle East peace plan at the Quai d'Orsay, in Paris, France October 9, 2025. Thomas Samson/Pool via REUTERS
France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a ministerial meeting on the implementation of the Middle East peace plan at the Quai d'Orsay, in Paris, France October 9, 2025. Thomas Samson/Pool via REUTERS

France will not join US President ​Donald Trump's Board of Peace for now because its charter does not correspond with ‌a UN ‌resolution ‌to ⁠resolve the ​war ‌in Gaza, and some of the charter's elements were contrary to the UN charter, ⁠its foreign ministry ‌spokesman said on ‍Thursday, Reuters reported.

"It ‍was not corresponding ‍on the one hand with the pure Gaza mandate, which ​is not even mentioned, and ⁠on the other hand, there are elements of this charter which are contrary to the United Nations charter," Pascal Confavreux told reporters.

According to The AP news, the new peace board was initially envisioned as a small group of world leaders overseeing the ceasefire, but it has morphed into something far more ambitious — and skepticism about its membership and mandate has led some countries usually closest to Washington to take a pass.