International
U.S., Iran Resume Geneva Talks Amid Military Buildup and Strike Threats
The United States and Iran are set to hold a new round of indirect negotiations in Geneva on Thursday, as both sides attempt to resolve their long-running nuclear dispute and prevent further U.S. military action following a significant American troop buildup in the Middle East.
The latest engagement comes after renewed diplomatic efforts earlier this month aimed at breaking decades of deadlock over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Washington, several Western governments, and Israel argue that Iran’s enrichment activities are geared toward developing nuclear weapons; a claim Tehran firmly rejects, insisting its programme is strictly for civilian purposes.
According to a U.S. official who spoke to Reuters, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will be present at the talks alongside Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump. Iran will be represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. As with previous discussions, the negotiations will be facilitated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who mediated last week’s talks in Geneva.
Earlier this week, President Trump signalled that while diplomacy remains his preferred route, military action remains on the table if Iran moves closer to acquiring a nuclear weapon. In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, he stressed that Washington would not permit Tehran to obtain such capability. The U.S. has deployed fighter aircraft, aircraft carrier strike groups, destroyers, and cruisers to the region in what analysts describe as its largest military presence there since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Though the immediate focus of the talks is Iran’s nuclear programme, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored Washington’s concerns about Iran’s ballistic missile development. Speaking to reporters in Saint Kitts on Wednesday, Rubio described Tehran’s unwillingness to discuss its missile programme as a “major problem,” adding that progress on nuclear issues would likely be
necessary before missile negotiations could advance. He characterised the missiles as weapons designed to target the United States and destabilise the region.
On Wednesday evening, Araqchi met with Albusaidi to finalise proposals Iran intended to present at the negotiations, according to a statement shared by Oman’s foreign ministry on X. Albusaidi is expected to meet with the American delegation on Thursday morning to relay Tehran’s positions and receive Washington’s response.
Tensions remain high. The United States joined Israel in striking Iranian nuclear facilities in June last year, and Tehran has warned of severe retaliation should it face another attack. Trump has also issued a deadline, saying on February 19 that Iran had 10 to 15 days to reach an agreement or face unspecified but serious consequences.
Global oil markets are closely monitoring developments. Prices edged upward on Thursday amid concerns that a military confrontation could disrupt energy supplies, although gains were limited by a rise in the U.S. crude inventories. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is reportedly increasing oil production and exports as a precautionary measure in case renewed hostilities affect regional supply chains.
Iran has signalled willingness to compromise. Araqchi said this week that Tehran seeks a fair and swift agreement but will not relinquish what it describes as its legitimate right to peaceful nuclear technology. Washington, however, maintains that uranium enrichment inside Iran presents a pathway to weaponisation.
“A deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority,” Araqchi wrote on X.
Reuters reported that Tehran is prepared to offer new concessions in exchange for sanctions relief and international recognition of its right to enrich uranium. However, significant disagreements remain, particularly over the scale and timing of lifting crippling U.S. sanctions, according to a senior Iranian official.
Domestically, Iran’s leadership faces mounting pressure. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is confronting what observers describe as the most severe crisis of his 36-year rule. The country’s economy is strained under intensified sanctions, and recent protests following violent unrest and a crackdown in January have further destabilised the political climate.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated on Thursday that Khamenei has issued a religious decree banning weapons of mass destruction, asserting that the ruling clearly prohibits the development of nuclear arms. Iranian authorities maintain that their nuclear activities remain within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which permits civilian nuclear programmes in exchange for renouncing nuclear weapons and cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi is also expected to be in Geneva during the talks for additional consultations, as he was during last week’s discussions.
Meanwhile, Israel; which has not signed the NPT, is widely believed by regional governments to possess nuclear weapons, though it has never publicly confirmed or denied such capabilities.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has firmly denied ever meeting disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, telling lawmakers she has no recollection of any interaction with him and no knowledge of his crimes.
Clinton made the declaration on Thursday during a closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee in Chappaqua, New York.
In a written statement issued during the session, she said she never boarded Epstein’s private jet, visited his properties, or had any encounter with him.
The testimony comes amid renewed congressional scrutiny over Epstein’s connections to powerful political and business figures before his 2019 jail death while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.
Political Tensions Rise
Clinton accused the Republican-led committee of attempting to deflect attention from President Donald Trump and his past social relationship with Epstein.
She also criticized the Trump administration, alleging it weakened a State Department office tasked with fighting global sex trafficking.
The deposition briefly stalled after a photo of Clinton during the session surfaced on social media. According to her adviser Nick Merrill, the image violated committee rules. Conservative commentator Benny Johnson posted the photo, claiming it was taken by Republican Representative Lauren Boebert.
Contempt Threat Forced Testimony
Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, had initially resisted appearing before the panel. They agreed to testify only after lawmakers initiated contempt proceedings.
Bill Clinton is expected to face questioning on Friday.
Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer dismissed claims that the probe is politically driven, noting that some Democrats had also supported calling the Clintons to testify.
“No one is accusing the Clintons of wrongdoing at this point,” Comer said, adding that the panel wants clarity on any potential contact with Epstein, his involvement in the Clintons’ charitable initiatives, and possible links to Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently imprisoned.
Comer said transcripts of both interviews will be released publicly.
Democrats Demand Broader Accountability
Representative Robert Garcia, the committee’s ranking Democrat, countered that the investigation should not stop with the Clintons. He called for testimony from Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who has acknowledged visiting Epstein’s private island years after cutting ties with him.
Garcia also accused the Justice Department of withholding portions of nearly three million Epstein-related documents recently made public. He claimed the missing records include allegations from a woman who accused Trump of sexual abuse when she was a minor.
In Washington, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats would review unredacted materials and urged the Justice Department to safeguard all related records.
The department has stated it is reviewing whether any documents were improperly withheld and has warned that some released materials contain unverified or sensational claims.
Authorities have not charged Trump with any crimes connected to Epstein. The two were known to have socialized in the 1990s and early 2000s before Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Comer said the committee has not uncovered evidence implicating Trump.
While Bill Clinton has acknowledged flying on Epstein’s private jet several times after leaving office, he has denied any misconduct and expressed regret over the association. Comer also stated that Epstein visited the White House 17 times during Clinton’s presidency.
Recently released documents have further highlighted Epstein’s links to prominent figures across politics and business, including Lutnick and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Ukraine has alleged that more than 1,700 African nationals are currently fighting alongside Russian forces in the ongoing war, accusing Moscow of using deceptive tactics to recruit them.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha made the disclosure on Wednesday during a joint press briefing with Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. According to Sybiha, Ukraine’s intelligence indicates that at least 1,780 individuals from 36 African countries have been enlisted into the Russian military.
Kyiv claims that many of these recruits were misled with false promises of employment opportunities, only to find themselves deployed to the frontlines of the conflict.
“We are witnessing attempts by Russia to pull African citizens into a brutal war,” Sybiha said, noting that Ukraine is engaging several African governments in discussions aimed at curbing what he described as exploitative recruitment schemes.
Russian officials have rejected allegations of unlawful recruitment. However, reports have surfaced in recent months suggesting that African men were enticed to Russia under the guise of civilian job offers before being redirected into combat roles in Ukraine.
Ablakwa stated that numerous African nationals caught up in the conflict were victims of online scams, particularly through dark web channels. He stressed that many lacked military training or prior security experience.
“These individuals were misled and placed directly in harm’s way,” he said.
Ghana also expressed support for Ukraine’s call for peace, urging a ceasefire as the war entered its fourth year earlier this week. Ablakwa disclosed plans to appeal to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the release of two Ghanaian nationals currently held as prisoners of war after being captured while fighting for Russia.
Looking ahead to Ghana’s leadership of the African Union next year, Ablakwa said the country intends to spearhead awareness campaigns to expose trafficking networks allegedly facilitating the recruitment of Africans into foreign conflicts.
Pope Leo will embark on a 10-day tour of Africa from April 13 to 23, visiting Algeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon, the Vatican announced on Wednesday.
The trip will be his first major overseas journey of 2026 and comes as the Catholic Church continues to record rapid growth across the continent, which is home to about 20 per cent of the world’s Catholics.
The pontiff, elected in May to succeed Pope Francis, is expected to draw large crowds and promote development as well as Catholic-Muslim dialogue during the visit.
Algeria, a predominantly Muslim nation, will be hosting a pope for the first time. Leo, a member of the Augustinian order, has shown special interest in the country, the birthplace of St. Augustine.
The Vatican also confirmed that the pope will visit Monaco on March 28 and travel to Spain from June 6 to 12. During his Spain trip, he is expected to visit the Canary Islands, a key entry point for migrants into Europe.
The last papal visit to Africa was in 2023, when Pope Francis travelled to Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.