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Iran “lesser hopeful” of Europeans commitment to N-deal

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Iran “lesser hopeful” of Europeans commitment to N-deal

US threatens to impose sanctions on European companies doing business in Iran

The damage control exercise after US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal known as JCPOA seems to be moving on a slow pace where Iranian officials have been complaining that EU has to take practical steps to boost economic cooperation with Tehran instead of extending just political support.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has reportedly made such remarks while meeting European Commissioner for Energy and Climate Miguel Arias Cañete and his accompanying delegation in Tehran on Sunday, a few weeks after US President Donald Trump announced his decision to withdraw from the landmark deal.

Read More: Trump’s pull out of Iran N-deal may escalate oil prices

Iran’s foreign minister Javad Zarif has recently visited Beijing, Moscow and Brussels to interact with the other signatories of the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Zarif said that the European Union’s “political support” for the nuclear deal was not enough and  urged to take more practical steps to boost economic cooperation with Iran.

Zarif said, “With the US exiting the JCPOA, public opinion’s expectations from the European Union have increased to save the JCPOA’s achievements. The [European] Union must take more practical steps to continue its economic cooperation with Iran and boost its investment in Iran.”

Read More: Isolated Trump gets Saudi Arabia, Israel support on Iran deal withdrawal

He emphasized that the 28-nation’s commitment to implementing the nuclear accord was not consistent with the announcement of the possible withdrawal by major European companies from cooperating with Iran.

Arias Cañete, for his part, said European countries had reinforced their determination to maintain the JCPOA’s gains. He further said that the EU was resolute on implementing the nuclear deal and helping European firms continue their cooperation with Iran.

Meanwhile an Iranian MP Mohamed Reza Rezaie Kochi, told Iran’s private Mehr News Agency, that foreign minister Javad Zarif, in a closed door meeting, has described the nuclear deal as a “dying patient” after US withdrawal.

Kochi, who heads the parliamentary reconstruction committee, said that the session was attended by Parliament Speaker, Supreme National Security Council Secretary and Chief negotiator. He said that “Zarif confirmed in a closed session that this “Deal is in the intensive care and going through a very tough situation.”

Read More: Iran: Europe should defy US sanctions if Trump leaves N-deal

Meanwhile, Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei, has said that he was highly skeptical about Europe’s support for the nuclear deal with Iran. He said that he does not trust their current manner of dealing with it.

Iran “lesser hopeful” of Europeans commitment to N-dealHe has reportedly said, “Some members of the European Union say they are committed [to the deal]. Some also say that they are developing economic relations [with Iran]. Meanwhile, some European officials have stated that they cannot offer guarantees in the face of US sanctions.”

Velayati, who served as foreign minister for a very long time after Islamic revolution, expressed his hope that the Iranian officials will be able to gain the necessary guarantees in the negotiations with Europeans.

Abbas Araqchi, the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister for Political Affairs, who is also one of the senior Iranian nuclear negotiators, has also expressed his doubt that the European parties would remain in the deal without the US. He further elaborated saying that Europeans do not want to enter a political and commercial war with the US.

The US president announced on May 8 that Washington was walking away from the nuclear agreement, which was reached between Iran and the P5+1, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany in 2015. He has also made his intention clear to reinstate US nuclear sanctions on Iran and impose “the highest level” of economic sanctions against Iran.

Immediately after the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Iran has said it would remain in the JCPOA for now, pending negotiations with the other signatories before making a final decision on its future role in the agreement. Tehran wants the Europeans to give it clear-cut guarantees about fulfilling their obligations.

The three European signatories, including Britain, France and Germany, have expressed their determination to preserve the deal.  However, Trump’s administration said last week that the US president is prepared to impose sanctions on European companies that do business in Iran.

John Bolton, Trump’s national security adviser, claimed that “the Europeans will see that it’s in their interests to come along with us” rather than continue with Iran nuclear deal, under which major European corporations have signed billions of dollars of contracts with Iran.

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India envoy Dinesh Trivedi meets PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman 

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman amid diplomatic tensions.

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India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, a day after his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka.

According to the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, Trivedi sought PM Modi’s guidance on further strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh through a constructive and people-centric approach.

The meeting came a day after Trivedi held discussions with Tarique Rahman on matters of mutual interest and ways to advance ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Dinesh Trivedi Meets Bangladesh PM

During his meeting with Tarique Rahman on Monday, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Modi and reiterated India’s commitment to working with the Bangladeshi administration and its people in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and explored avenues for strengthening India-Bangladesh relations with a people-centric approach.

The engagement took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Trivedi also shared his experience of serving in Dhaka over the previous two months.

Sheikh Hasina Extradition Request

The meeting assumed significance as Bangladesh has expressed hope that India will expedite the extradition process involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted following a student-led uprising in 2024.

According to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka also reiterated its request for India to return individuals it alleges were involved in the killing of Shahid Osman Hadi, a prominent figure associated with the July uprising who was shot on December 12, 2025.

Tarique Rahman stressed the need to create a suitable environment to take forward relations between Bangladesh and India.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and other officials attended the meeting.

India-Bangladesh Ties Amid Diplomatic Friction

The latest high-level engagements come amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries following a virtual press interaction by Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi on August 5.

The event, organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia to mark the second anniversary of her ouster, prompted strong objections from Dhaka.

During the interaction, Hasina said she remained determined to return to Bangladesh in December and restore democracy, while acknowledging the possibility of imprisonment or a death sentence upon her return.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently registered a strong protest and said the development had affected public sentiment and complicated efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

India has said the government had no involvement in the event. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it was organised by a private media entity and clarified that New Delhi did not endorse views expressed at the forum.

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Trump, PM Modi will resolve tariff issue over Russian oil trade, says US official

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue over US tariff threats linked to India’s Russian oil trade.

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US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue surrounding the threat of US tariffs linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday.

Navarro’s remarks came days after the US Senate passed a bill authorising the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five purchasers of Russian oil. The measure argues that such purchases directly contribute to financing Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Navarro comments on India’s Russian oil trade

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Navarro said India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia before the Ukraine war began in 2022.

He alleged that India became heavily involved in the trade after Russia’s invasion and sold refined products on behalf of Russia, which he said helped support the Russian war effort.

“Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia, but afterwards it got heavily involved,” Navarro said.

The White House adviser also claimed that the issue had since been resolved and attributed some of the shift in India’s Russian oil trade to an opinion article he recently wrote in the Financial Times.

Trump and Modi will resolve issue, Navarro says

Navarro said the relationship between Trump and Modi would help address the tariff-related issue.

“The president and your prime minister have a very good working relationship. They are going to work that out amongst themselves,” he said, adding that it was not his place to intervene.

His comments come amid US concerns over countries purchasing Russian oil and proposed measures aimed at imposing additional tariffs on major buyers.

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US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill, India-China face 100% tariff risk

The US Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill that could allow 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China.

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The US Senate has approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China.

The legislation was passed by an 86-11 vote and will now move to the US House of Representatives, which is scheduled to reconvene on August 31.

The bill is named in honour of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Ukraine who died on July 11. Graham had pushed for tougher sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.

India and China among major Russian energy buyers

The legislation gives the US president the power to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.

India and China are among those countries, along with Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia.

The bill also contains an exception for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and taking steps to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

What does the Russia sanctions bill contain?

Apart from the proposed tariffs, the legislation includes sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, financial institutions and energy projects.

The bill would also expand US sanctions to older and reflagged oil tankers allegedly used by Moscow to bypass existing restrictions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

At the same time, the White House would have the option to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest.

Bill also extends Iran sanctions law

The legislation also contains a provision related to Iran. It would extend the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031.

The law penalises companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.

The bill’s passage in the Senate marks the next step in the US legislative process, but it still needs approval from the House of Representatives before it can move forward.

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