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US Official Says Parties Can Still Walk Away from Iran Deal, Sequencing Will Be Key

Men ride their mopeds past a map of Iran with the images of some of those killed in the Israeli-US war against the nation, erected on a wall along the highway in Tehran on June 17, 2026. (AFP)
Men ride their mopeds past a map of Iran with the images of some of those killed in the Israeli-US war against the nation, erected on a wall along the highway in Tehran on June 17, 2026. (AFP)
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US Official Says Parties Can Still Walk Away from Iran Deal, Sequencing Will Be Key

Men ride their mopeds past a map of Iran with the images of some of those killed in the Israeli-US war against the nation, erected on a wall along the highway in Tehran on June 17, 2026. (AFP)
Men ride their mopeds past a map of Iran with the images of some of those killed in the Israeli-US war against the nation, erected on a wall along the highway in Tehran on June 17, 2026. (AFP)

Both Iran and the US can walk away from the memorandum of understanding they are set to sign on Friday, and upcoming talks are likely to focus on ‌the precise sequencing ‌of the steps ‌previewed ⁠in the preliminary accord, ⁠a senior US official told reporters on Wednesday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official read out the 14-point memorandum that is due ⁠to be formally ‌signed in Switzerland. ‌

They said the upcoming meeting ‌there will be "critical" for ‌ensuring that the memorandum of understanding can evolve into a comprehensive agreement.

"I think the meeting in ‌Switzerland will be quite critical in order to really ⁠see ⁠how we get to the next phase," a senior US official said.

The document, as read out by the official, was similar to the 14-point memorandum that various media outlets had already reported on earlier in the day.

According to the official, the draft agreement includes a new “minimum” standard for downblending of highly enriched Iranian uranium and has provisions to ensure the “territorial integrity” of Lebanon after Israel’s latest attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanese territory.

In return, the US will move to waive, but not eliminate, some wide-ranging sanctions against Iran once the deal is signed.

The US draft of the agreement also secures toll-free passage of the Strait of Hormuz for only 60 days, and it does not preclude fees in future, the officials said.

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China Tells Iran FM Does Not Want Regional Tensions to Spread to Yemen, Red Sea

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivers his speech at the opening ceremony of the Lanting Forum in Beijing, China, October 27, 2025. (Reuters)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivers his speech at the opening ceremony of the Lanting Forum in Beijing, China, October 27, 2025. (Reuters)
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China Tells Iran FM Does Not Want Regional Tensions to Spread to Yemen, Red Sea

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivers his speech at the opening ceremony of the Lanting Forum in Beijing, China, October 27, 2025. (Reuters)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivers his speech at the opening ceremony of the Lanting Forum in Beijing, China, October 27, 2025. (Reuters)

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing was willing to "safeguard" Iran's rights during talks with his counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, as Beijing seeks to mediate in Tehran's war with the United States.

China is "willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with Iran, and safeguard Iran's legitimate rights and interests", Wang told Araghchi as they met in the Chinese capital.

"We encourage Iran and the US to stay rational and restrained," he added, while also warning against the expansion of the conflict in the region.

The talks come one week before an expected trip by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington, where he will meet US President Donald Trump.

China, a top economic partner of Iran, has long sought a detente in the months-long conflict in the Middle East, which has at times spilled over into neighboring countries.

"We do not wish to see regional tensions spilling over into Yemen and the Red Sea," Wang said.

Recent fighting that flared up in Yemen between government forces and the Iran-backed Houthis has displaced more than 100,000 people inside the country while thousands have fled abroad, according to the United Nations.

The war in Iran will be a closely watched topic at Xi's meeting with Trump, among other thorny issues ranging from trade to competition over artificial intelligence.

Beijing refuted this week US media reports that Chinese entities supplied Tehran with satellite images of a military base housing US troops in Jordan, before and after an Iranian strike killed three American soldiers.

Trump has warned Beijing not to sell weapons to Iran, and Washington sanctioned three China-based satellite companies in May for enabling Iran's military operations.

World

US Charges Five Alleged Agents for Russia Over Assassination Plots

The seal of the US Justice Department is seen on the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room in Washington, January 24, 2023. (Reuters)
The seal of the US Justice Department is seen on the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room in Washington, January 24, 2023. (Reuters)
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US Charges Five Alleged Agents for Russia Over Assassination Plots

The seal of the US Justice Department is seen on the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room in Washington, January 24, 2023. (Reuters)
The seal of the US Justice Department is seen on the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room in Washington, January 24, 2023. (Reuters)

The US Department of Justice announced charges Tuesday against five alleged agents for Russian intelligence accused of conspiring to carry out attacks and murders around the world, including in the United States.

The group, which has been active since at least 2024, attempted to have a "prominent Russian dissident" believed to be living in the US murdered this summer, the department said in a statement, without naming the target.

Its members allegedly operated as part of "a global assassination network that reached into the United States," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg said.

They attempted to recruit US citizens and foreigners to carry out killings on the Kremlin's orders, Eisenberg said.

According to the statement, the three main suspects are Yuri Khrameev, a 63-year-old former colonel in the Russian intelligence services, his son Kirill, 27, and Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, a 35-year-old Cuban.

The other two suspects, Yaidel Delgado Suarez of Cuba and Angel Eduardo Castro of Venezuela, were allegedly working as recruiting agents in the US.

All five suspects remain at large.

The attempted murder of the Russian dissident was the group's most recent operation, the statement said.

The plot fell apart after the man recruited to conduct surveillance on the target refused to carry out the murder, for which he had been offered $40,000.

Last year, a murder plot against a target in Lithuania who was "telling lies about Russia" failed for the same reason, according to the statement.

It also identified planned attacks on civilian and military infrastructure in European countries supporting Ukraine.

"It is our job to stop America's adversaries from unleashing violence and terror on American soil," Attorney General Todd Blanche said.

World

Von der Leyen Urge EU States to Join Forces Against 'Openly Hostile World'

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers the State of the European Union address (SOTEU) to the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France, September 16, 2026. REUTERS/Yves Herman
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers the State of the European Union address (SOTEU) to the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France, September 16, 2026. REUTERS/Yves Herman
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Von der Leyen Urge EU States to Join Forces Against 'Openly Hostile World'

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers the State of the European Union address (SOTEU) to the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France, September 16, 2026. REUTERS/Yves Herman
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers the State of the European Union address (SOTEU) to the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France, September 16, 2026. REUTERS/Yves Herman

The head of the European Commission called on Wednesday for EU states to work together and form a new partnership with Canada, to tackle climate change, competition from China and other major challenges.

The bloc was dealing with "an openly hostile world", Ursula von der Leyen said in her annual speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, setting out priorities for the 27-nation EU for the year ahead.

Solidarity among member states was the only possible solution, she said.

"Our path is clear. Building an independent Europe that has the power to act."

The 27-nation bloc faces war at its borders, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. On ⁠trade and other ⁠issues, it is also facing stiff rivalry from Donald Trump's United States and from an increasingly assertive China.

The EU faces major headwinds at home as well, including the increasing popularity of a Eurosceptic far-right, seen in regional elections in Germany that have weakened Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Opinion polls see Marine Le Pen as the strongest contender in next year's presidential vote in France.

"The state of our Union is the strongest it has ever been. The state of our Union can also feel as ⁠precarious as it has ever been," von der Leyen said, according to Reuters.

Von der Leyen, now in her second five-year term at the helm of the EU executive arm, was also set to stress the need to maintain European independence in various sectors, including energy, raw materials and clean technologies.

To achieve that, EU countries will not only need to work together, but also have strong partners like Canada, whose Prime Minister Mark Carneyis in Strasbourg and was warmly applauded by EU lawmakers as he arrived to listen to von der Leyen's speech.

"We want to bring the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible," von der Leyen said. "So, I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the ⁠EU."

Von der Leyen walked ⁠up to and embraced Carney after mentioning the "associate membership" issue for Canada and Carney got a standing ovation from the chamber.

Turning to trade, von der Leyen said the EU will use every possible means to reduce its "unsustainable" trade deficit with China. She said that the imbalance, with a goods trade deficit of €1 billion ($1.15 billion) a day last year, had reached a tipping point.

"Let me be clear: we will use all the tools at our disposal to rebalance our relationship. Words are good. But deeds are better," she said.

Von der Leyen also said the bloc will need to stay its ambitious course on mitigating climate change but also step up efforts to adapt to it, drawing on experiences from the last three months when the continent was hit by unprecedented heat waves and wildfires.