Iran Says it Is Committed to Resolving Nuclear Dispute Through Diplomacy 

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian speaks during the Iran and BRICS summit in Tehran, Iran, August 8, 2023. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian speaks during the Iran and BRICS summit in Tehran, Iran, August 8, 2023. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
TT

Iran Says it Is Committed to Resolving Nuclear Dispute Through Diplomacy 

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian speaks during the Iran and BRICS summit in Tehran, Iran, August 8, 2023. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian speaks during the Iran and BRICS summit in Tehran, Iran, August 8, 2023. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Iran is committed to resolving its nuclear dispute with world powers through diplomacy, the country's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told reporters in a televised news conference on Monday.

"We have always wanted a return of all parties to full compliance of the 2015 nuclear deal," Amir-Abdollahian said.

Indirect talks between Washington and Tehran to revive the nuclear agreement have stalled since last September.

Having failed to revive the pact, Tehran and Washington said on Thursday they had reached an understanding under which $6 billion in Iranian funds will be unfrozen from South Korea while five American nationals detained in Iran will be released.

The United States would also release some Iranians from US prisons as part of the deal, Iran said.



Days after Surgery, Netanyahu Rushes to Knesset for Budget Vote

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the fifth day of testimony in his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the fifth day of testimony in his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP)
TT

Days after Surgery, Netanyahu Rushes to Knesset for Budget Vote

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the fifth day of testimony in his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the fifth day of testimony in his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rushed to Israel’s parliament Tuesday for an emergency vote on a portion of the budget less than two days after his prostate surgery, after parts of his coalition refused to support the measure.

Israeli media reported that Netanyahu took his seat in the Knesset despite doctors’ objections in an effort to pass the budget measure.

The coalition was able to achieve a majority in a last-ditch attempt. The vote was critical because Tuesday is the last day of the 2024 tax year, and if the vote had not passed, the government would have had to find another funding source to plug an approximately 10 billion Israeli shekel ($2.7 billion) deficit.

Also, if the budget does not pass in full by March, it will force snap elections.

Far-right Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has instructed his party not to support the critical budget measure, which attempts to address a massive budget deficit. At least three others also said they would vote against the measure over their displeasure over forced enlistment of ultra-Orthodox men in the military.

On Monday, the hospital said Netanyahu’s recovery was proceeding well after undergoing prostate surgery Sunday night.