International

Venezuela and the United States are committed to “gaining trust” and maintaining communications

The Governments of Venezuela and the United States agreed on Wednesday to work to “gain trust” and maintain communications “in a respectful and constructive way,” after the first “virtual meeting” between officials from both countries, without diplomatic relations since 2019, Caracas reported.

The person in charge of these conversations by the Venezuelan Executive, Jorge Rodríguez, indicated in X that in this first meeting the parties expressed their willingness to do a joint work to “improve relations” between the nations.

“We show our rejection of the misrepresentations that about this dialogue and repeatedly have been published by spokespeople of the US Government. We warn that we will always respond with the truth,” remarked the also president of Parliament.

According to him, his delegation insisted “that the dialogue should be limited to what was agreed in Qatar,” alluding to pacts that Caracas and Washington signed in parallel to the negotiations in Barbados between the Executive and the Democratic United Platform (PUD), the largest opposition bloc, from which an electoral guarantees agreement emerged.

The Government of Nicolás Maduro,” Rodríguez added, “also reiterated that, “in order to continue regaining mutual trust and relations between governments, the principles of self-determination, sovereignty and reciprocity must be respected.”

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For her part, the White House spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, reiterated – at a press conference – the US request for the dialogue process to be in “good faith” and reaffirmed the request that the presidential elections on July 28 in Venezuela be competitive and inclusive.

Since March 2022, when a delegation from the White House traveled to Caracas to meet with Maduro, the talks between the United States and the Caribbean country are intermittent, and with ups and downs.

Among the agreements reached, is the partial lifting of U.S. sanctions against Venezuela last October, a relief that was reversed six months later, by Caracas – according to Joe Biden’s Executive – not complying with what was agreed in Barbados.

International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

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International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

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Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”