World News
Iran Signals Willingness to Compromise on Nuclear Programme if Sanctions Are Lifted
Iran has indicated readiness to compromise on its stockpile of highly enriched uranium if the United States agrees to lift sanctions imposed on its economy.
The statement was made by Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi following the resumption of nuclear talks between both countries held in Oman on February 6. He said Tehran is open to negotiations that could include reducing or diluting its uranium stockpile, provided Washington demonstrates what he described as sincerity.
According to him, progress toward an agreement depends on the removal of sanctions that Iran says have severely affected its economy. He also suggested that it is too early to determine whether Tehran would agree to ship its stockpile of more than 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium out of the country.
A new round of negotiations is expected to take place in Geneva next week, according to an announcement by Switzerland, though Iranian authorities have yet to officially confirm the meeting date. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led Tehran’s delegation in the earlier Oman talks.
Western governments, led by Washington and backed by Israel, accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons capability. Tehran denies the allegation, insisting its nuclear programme is strictly for civilian purposes.
The fate of Iran’s uranium reserves remains uncertain. Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency last verified the stockpile in June, before reported Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The agency says Iran has enriched uranium to about 60 percent purity—well above the 3.67 percent limit set by the now-defunct 2015 nuclear deal and close to weapons-grade levels.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted on a zero-enrichment standard for Iran. Takht-Ravanchi, however, said that demand is “not on the table” from Tehran’s perspective.
Reports from Iran’s Fars news agency also suggest the talks could cover potential American investments in Iran’s energy sector, signaling that economic incentives may play a role in future negotiations.
China has confirmed that citizens of Canada and the United Kingdom will be able to travel to the country without visas starting Tuesday, February 17.
The announcement follows official visits to Beijing in January by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who both met with Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping, to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties.
According to China’s foreign ministry, holders of ordinary passports from the two countries can enter visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, exchanges, or transit for stays of up to 30 days. The policy will remain in effect until December 31, 2026.
Beijing said the move is intended to “further facilitate people-to-people exchanges” and improve relations with the two Western nations.
The visa waiver is seen as part of broader diplomatic engagement efforts following the recent high-level visits, which both leaders described as productive in advancing cooperation with China.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has cautioned citizens against participating in overseas armed conflicts, stating that Nigerians who enlist outside official channels do so at their own risk.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Maitama Tuggar issued the warning in a statement released Sunday by ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, expressing concern over what he described as a growing trend of Nigerians being illegally recruited into foreign wars, including the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
According to the minister, reports indicate that some Nigerians were lured abroad under false pretences such as offers of lucrative jobs, security work, education opportunities, or migration incentives. He said victims were sometimes misled into signing military contracts, occasionally in foreign languages without proper legal guidance, after which their travel documents were allegedly confiscated.
Tuggar warned that such activities could violate both Nigerian and international laws governing mercenary involvement and foreign enlistment, stressing that participation in foreign conflicts without government approval exposes individuals to serious danger.
He disclosed that the government is working with relevant domestic and international partners to investigate the alleged recruitment networks and to raise awareness about the risks. Nigerian diplomatic missions abroad have also been directed to intensify consular monitoring and provide timely advisories to citizens.
The minister urged parents, community leaders, and educational institutions to sensitise young people about deceptive recruitment schemes, advising Nigerians to verify overseas job or study offers through official channels and report suspicious activities to authorities.
He reiterated that Nigeria remains committed to protecting the welfare and dignity of its citizens worldwide and will not tolerate exploitation or trafficking of its nationals into foreign conflicts.
The governments of Nigeria and Angola have formalised a bilateral agreement eliminating visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports, a step officials say will ease official travel and deepen intergovernmental cooperation.
The pact was signed Sunday on the sidelines of the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa. The development was confirmed in a statement issued by the spokesperson of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, endorsed the agreement on behalf of Abuja, while Tete António, Angola’s Minister of External Relations, signed for Luanda.
Officials said the arrangement removes administrative entry restrictions for eligible government officials and diplomats, enabling smoother participation in bilateral meetings, joint initiatives and official assignments between both countries.
The visa waiver is also viewed as part of broader continental efforts to enhance mobility, strengthen institutional partnerships and accelerate regional integration across Africa.