International
Iran denies having a proposal from the United States to close a nuclear agreement
Iran denied this Friday that it had received a firm proposal from the United States to close a nuclear agreement, as stated by US President Donald Trump.
“Iran has not received any written proposal from the United States, either directly or indirectly,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in X.
The head of Iranian diplomacy once again insisted that his country will not give up its right to maintain a nuclear program for peaceful purposes.
“Remember my words: there is no scenario in which Iran abandons its right to enrichment for peaceful purposes, which it has worked so hard to achieve: a right that is also granted to all other signatories of the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty), he said.
At the same time, he reiterated that the United States sends confusing and contradictory messages, before which Tehran will stand firm.
“Respect our rights and end your sanctions, and we will have an agreement,” he said.
Trump assured today that Iran already has a firm proposal from Washington on the table for the negotiations they keep aimed at achieving a nuclear agreement, but in case of not “acting quickly, something bad will happen.”
“Yes, they have a proposal. And most importantly, they know they have to act fast. Something bad is going to happen,” he told journalists inside the Air Force One as he took off in the direction of Washington after finishing his four-day tour of the Middle East
Yesterday in Doha, Trump said that he is “approaching” a pact with Iran, by which this country “will not be able to have a nuclear weapon,” which “is the only point, very simple” that the United States requires for an agreement.
Iran and the United States began nuclear talks on April 12, after Trump called on Tehran to negotiate an agreement and threatened a military attack if a pact on its atomic program was not reached.
Washington and Tehran have held four rounds of nuclear talks, the last one last Sunday in Muscat, Oman, in which they agreed to continue negotiations, although they have not yet announced the date and place of the next meeting.
In the negotiations, Iran seeks to lift economic sanctions and only limit its nuclear capacity, while the United States has also pointed to the Iranian missile program and Tehran’s support for regional groups such as the Houthis in Yemen.
Tehran insists that it will not negotiate its right to enrich uranium, while Washington has mentioned the possibilities of completely dismantling the Iranian atomic program or acquiring enriched uranium from another country.
International
Looting Spreads in Venezuela’s Hardest-Hit Areas After Deadly Earthquakes
Not even the wires were left behind at a small grocery store. Before the ground had even stopped shaking, looting and theft began in the areas hardest hit by the double earthquake that struck Venezuela.
Reports of robberies have multiplied in the coastal state of La Guaira, located near Caracas and now transformed into a landscape of collapsed buildings and debris.
Videos circulating on social media show groups of people removing boxes of household appliances from a damaged store. Other images show similar boxes being carried on top of vehicles and motorcycles.
Social media platforms have also been filled with accusations against police officers and military personnel who allegedly stole from homes and even from victims who died during the disaster.
A branch of a major pharmacy chain was looted, along with supermarkets and other businesses. Some residents have described the situation as “disaster tourism,” while others say the looting reflects hunger and desperation among people who lost everything in a country already facing a prolonged economic crisis.
“Is it fair that our own people turn against our own people?” said María Esther Bernal, 71, who rented commercial spaces to Chinese merchants, all of which were looted. “They left nothing behind, not even the wallpaper. They even took the cables,” she said.
“Next door, a man died. He was Chinese. People walked over his body while they looted the place. It was a supermarket,” she added.
An AFP journalist witnessed looting in La Guaira since Thursday, following the earthquakes.
Jenifer Mayora, 34, defended some of the actions, saying that “the things people took were because the owners of the stores allowed us to take them.”
However, she criticized the limited response from authorities. “I have been waiting for a mattress so my children can sleep,” she said.
Residents have expressed anger over what they describe as a slow and insufficient response from authorities after the double earthquake, which has left around 1,450 people dead and tens of thousands missing.
Communities are demanding not only faster rescue operations in La Guaira, but also stronger security measures and urgent assistance with food, water, and medicine.
International
UN warns Venezuela earthquakes could affect up to 6.76 million people
Up to 6.76 million people could be affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, according to an assessment released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency.
The organization said the projections are based on available population data and damage assessments, and include up to two million people living in Caracas, the country’s capital.
The estimates highlight the potentially massive humanitarian impact of the disaster, the IOM warned.
Entire buildings collapsed in La Guaira, a coastal area north of Caracas, following the powerful twin earthquakes that reached magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 on Wednesday.
The national death toll has risen to 920, while rescue teams continue searching for people trapped beneath the rubble in coastal regions and other affected areas.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told AFP on Friday that more than 50,000 people were reported missing.
The IOM also revealed that it worked with Microsoft’s artificial intelligence laboratory on an initial satellite mapping analysis, which showed that 31.5% of buildings in the town of Catia La Mar had suffered damage.
Authorities and international rescue teams continue operations as Venezuela faces one of its largest humanitarian emergencies in recent years.
International
United Nations Coordinates Relief Efforts as Venezuela Death Toll Rises After Twin Quakes
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday expressed his condolences to the people of Venezuela following the two devastating earthquakes that struck the country and highlighted the ongoing coordination between UN humanitarian teams and interim President Delcy Rodríguez.
Speaking during the UN’s daily press briefing, spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Guterres was deeply saddened by the loss of life and widespread destruction caused by the disaster.
“The Secretary-General is deeply distressed by the loss of life and the widespread devastation caused by the earthquakes that struck Venezuela yesterday. He extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured,” Dujarric stated.
Venezuela was struck on Wednesday by two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude. According to official figures, the disaster has left at least 164 people dead and 971 others injured.
Dujarric noted that preliminary reports indicate significant damage across several states, including the capital, Caracas. Numerous casualties have been reported, while other individuals remain trapped beneath collapsed structures or are still missing.
“Critical infrastructure has been damaged and essential services have been disrupted,” the spokesperson said.
The United Nations confirmed that its humanitarian team remains in close contact with interim President Delcy Rodríguez and other relevant authorities as emergency operations continue.
To support relief efforts, the UN has established a coordination center in Caracas and is assisting local authorities to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches affected communities as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Guterres also welcomed the expressions of solidarity and offers of assistance from countries around the world that responded following news of the disaster, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in addressing the humanitarian emergency.
Looting Spreads in Venezuela’s Hardest-Hit Areas After Deadly Earthquakes
UN warns Venezuela earthquakes could affect up to 6.76 million people
United Nations Coordinates Relief Efforts as Venezuela Death Toll Rises After Twin Quakes
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