World Echo

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday said Iran was attempting to preserve the current ceasefire in order to give diplomacy an opportunity to move forward. Speaking at the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi, he said Tehran has "no trust" in the US and is interested in negotiating with Washington only if it is serious. Iran is trying to keep the ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance, he told reporters during a press conference. Araghchi blamed what he calls “contradictory messages” from Washington for complicating negotiations, according to Al Jazeera. In comments carried by Iran’s IRIB broadcaster, he said Iran is not to blame for disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, and that Tehran did not initiate the war and is only defending itself. He reiterated Iran’s position that the strait is now open to vessels of “friendly countries”, as long as they coordinate with Iranian officials, and only closed to...

 India's state-run fuel ​retailers have raised petrol and diesel prices for the first time in four years by 3 Indian ​rupees ($0.03) per litre, or more than 3%, ‌according to dealers, to recoup some of the losses incurred due to higher global crude oil prices. India, the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer, is one of the last major economies to raise retail fuel prices following the disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz by the war started by US-Israeli attacks on Iran. State-run Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum Corp and Bharat Petroleum ​Corp, which together control more than 90% of India's 103,000 fuel stations, tend to set diesel and petrol prices in tandem. A BPCL spokesperson confirmed ​the price increase at its retail outlets. Indian Oil and HPCL did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Diesel in ⁠Delhi will cost 90.67 Indian ​rupees a litre and petrol 97.77 Indian ​rupees, reflecting increases of 3.4% a...

New Delhi condemned an attack that sank an Indian-flagged vessel transiting through Omani waters as “unacceptable” on Thursday and said commercial ships should not be targeted amid the US-Israeli war with Iran. The attack on the dhow — a wooden vessel — occurred while it was sailing from Somalia to the United Arab Emirates in the early hours of Wednesday, causing a fire on board that eventually led to the ship sinking, New Delhi said. All 14 crew members were rescued by the Omani coast guard and taken to Diba port, India added. India did not specify the nature of the attack or identify who was responsible. However, British maritime risk management group Vanguard said the explosion was believed to have been caused by a drone or missile strike. The vessel was carrying livestock cargo, Vanguard said. “The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian marin...

A state banquet is underway in Beijing. It kicked off with Xi saying China and the US should be partners, not rivals, and US President Donald Trump describing Chinese President Xi Jinping as a friend. The event caps off the first day of the two-day summit between the leaders of the world's two largest economies. Earlier, Xi told Trump that trade talks were making progress, but cautioned that disagreement over Taiwan could send relations down a dangerous path and even lead to conflict. Xi's remarks on Taiwan, the democratically governed island claimed by Beijing, came in a closed-door meeting that ran more than two hours, China's foreign ministry said. They represented a stark - if not unprecedented - warning during a pomp-filled occasion that otherwise appeared friendly and relaxed. The US summary of the talks made no mention of Taiwan. Instead, it focused on the leaders' shared desire to reopen the key waterway of the Strait of Hormuz, effectively closed due...

US President Donald Trump on Thursday told China's Xi Jinping their countries would have "a fantastic future together", as they began a superpower summit in Beijing on thorny issues including Iran, trade and Taiwan. Heaping praise on his host, Trump told Xi it was "an honour to be your friend", as the Chinese leader, in less effusive tones, said the two sides "should be partners and not rivals". Xi warned his US counterpart that the issue of Taiwan could push their two countries into "conflict" if mishandled, a stark opening salvo as a superpower summit set to tackle numerous thorny issues began in Beijing Thursday. Temple of Heaven Trump had arrived in China with accolades for his host, calling Xi a "great leader" and "friend", as he predicted that their countries would have "a fantastic future together". Trump visited the Temple of Heaven. Xi greeted Trump outside the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests....

Dozens of Israeli occupiers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied East Jerusalem on Thursday morning under the protection of Israeli forces, the official news agency Wafa reported. Local sources said occupiers entered the compound and publicly performed Talmudic rituals in its courtyards under Israeli protection, Wafa added. Under Israeli occupation police protection, a group of Zionist settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque's courtyards, desecrating the holy site by singing and dancing. Follow: https://t.co/B3zXG74hnU pic.twitter.com/AuPjbboebY — Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) May 14, 2026 The Turkish foreign ministry condemned the act in a statement posted on X, saying, "Such provocative acts, which violate the historical and legal status of Al-Aqsa Mosque as a holy site belonging to Muslims, risk further deepening tensions and instability in the region." The statement ended with a call to protect the rights of Palestinians and prevent "violations ...