WASHINGTON -- A 60-day countdown toward a permanent agreement to end the war between the United States and Iran has begun after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Thursday.
The MoU, signed by U.S. President Donald Trump in France on Wednesday, triggered a 60-day negotiating period that began on Thursday and is due to expire on Aug. 17, Vance said at a White House briefing.
The MoU was "signed technically today, Iran time," Vance said, adding that technical negotiations on a permanent deal are expected to begin this weekend. (U.S.-Iran-MoU)
- - - -
TEHRAN -- Iran's top security body on Thursday announced that it has issued the order for the swift handling of requests by vessels for passage through the Strait of Hormuz in line with meeting the objectives of a newly-signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington.
Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) made the announcement in a statement carried by Iranian media hours after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump signed the MoU, electronically.
The SNSC said under the MoU, no fee will be charged for 60 days for passage by ships requesting to cross the Strait of Hormuz, and all the expenses will be covered by the Iranian government. (Iran-Hormuz Strait)
- - - -
TEHRAN -- Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that despite having a different opinion, he issued the permission for signing a peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington.
He made the remarks in a message addressed to Iran's people, which was carried by Iranian media, hours after Pezeshkian and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, signed the MoU on ending the war. (Iran-Supreme Leader)
- - - -
NIAMEY -- An attack on Diori Hamani International Airport and nearby military facilities in Niamey, the capital of Niger, killed 11 members of the defense and security forces and two civilians, according to a statement issued by Niger's Ministry of Defense on Thursday.
The ministry said the assailants attempted to enter the airport terminal in the early hours of Thursday, but were stopped by security forces. During the ensuing operation, 22 attackers were killed and about 20 suspects were arrested. Security forces are continuing clearance operations in the area. (Niger-Attack)
- - - -
NEW YORK -- One person was wounded in a shooting in New York City's Times Square on Thursday afternoon, according to local authorities.
Police said a suspect was taken into custody. The New York Fire Department said one person was transported to hospital. No further details were released.
The shooting occurred around 3:40 p.m. local time (1940 GMT), just hours after the New York Knicks' championship parade in Lower Manhattan. Nearly 10,000 police officers had been deployed across the city for the event. (U.S.-Times Square-Shooting) Enditem
京公网安备 11010802027341号