International
The United States demands that Iran stop its “destabilizing activities” before a nuclear pact
The United States demanded that Iran stop its “destabilizing activities” around the world, as a precondition for both countries to resume negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear pact.
This is how the Joe Biden Administration reacted after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchí said that his country is ready to restart talks this week, during the UN General Assembly in New York, if “the other parties are willing.”
In statements to EFE, a State Department spokesman said that the United States considers diplomacy is “the best way” to achieve a solution, but right now it is a “very distant” possibility due to Iran’s behavior.
“The path that Iran must follow is, to a large extent, to put an end to its destabilizing activities around the world. That is something that Iran must show us with actions, not with words,” said this source.
The spokesman explained that if the Iranian government wants to demonstrate “its good faith,” it must first adopt a series of immediate measures that involve “stop arming terrorist groups” and “stop their nuclear escalation and lift their blockade on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)”.
Also stop “killing opponents”, stop the “unjust executions of Iranians” and stop “the transfer of missiles and drones to Russia” that are used in the war in Ukraine.
“We will continue to judge the regime by its actions, not by its words,” he said.
In 2015, Iran signed a nuclear agreement that limited its atomic activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions with six major powers, including the United States.
The Administration of Donald Trump (2017-2021) left the agreement unilaterally in 2018 and, since then, Iran has considerably increased its nuclear program, without it being possible to reach another pact.
The Biden government tried to revive the agreement, but negotiations with Iran broke down in 2022.
Last July, the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said that Iran was “one or two weeks” away from having enough enriched uranium to develop a nuclear weapon.
The OEIA recently estimated that Iran’s total stocks of enriched uranium, which according to the nuclear agreement should not exceed 300 kilos, totaled 5,751 kilos in mid-August.
Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian has been willing to try to improve relations with Western countries since taking office at the end of July, but has always stressed that he will not “tolerate
International
UK braces for potential CO₂ shortage amid Middle East tensions
The government of United Kingdom is preparing contingency measures amid fears of a potential shortage of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which could impact the agri-food industry if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, The Times reported on Thursday.
According to the newspaper, officials assessed this scenario during a recent crisis meeting aimed at evaluating the consequences of a prolonged conflict, triggered on February 28 by joint attacks from United States and Israel against Iran.
Under this scenario, CO₂ supplies—primarily a byproduct of fertilizer production using natural gas—could fall by up to 18%, affecting multiple sectors including agriculture and food production.
The gas is widely used in the slaughter of pigs and poultry, as well as in extending the shelf life of packaged foods. Breweries could also face disruptions due to reduced availability.
“I don’t want to comment on a leak, but now that the information is out there, I hope people feel reassured knowing we are working on it,” said Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in remarks to Sky News.
While a drop in CO₂ supply is not expected to cause major shortages in supermarkets, it could limit product variety, The Times noted, citing access to internal government documents.
To mitigate the impact, authorities are considering prioritizing CO₂ supply for critical sectors such as healthcare and civil nuclear energy, where it is used in cooling systems for blood reserves, organs, vaccines, and electricity generation. The government may also request domestic producers to increase output.
Central America
El Salvador and Paraguay approve 2026–2028 cooperation program
The governments of El Salvador and Paraguay approved the 2026–2028 Cooperation Program, which includes six joint development projects, according to Salvadoran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Adriana Mira.
Mira stated that El Salvador will act as the “main provider of cooperation,” contributing five initiatives focused on road infrastructure, tourism, and local development. She also noted that one of the projects will be led by the Paraguayan side, although no further details were disclosed.
The agreement was reached during the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission on Technical and Scientific Cooperation between both countries.
According to Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the First Meeting of the Political Consultation and Bilateral Coordination Mechanism was also held, with the participation of Vice Minister Víctor Verdún.
In an official statement, the Paraguayan government reported that both delegations agreed to identify mechanisms to promote competitiveness, economic growth, and market access. They also committed to signing agreements related to air transport cooperation.
International
Macron meets Machado, stresses need for democratic transition in Venezuela
Emmanuel Macron met on Monday at the Élysée Palace with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, where they discussed the importance of advancing a democratic transition in Venezuela.
In a message shared on social media, Macron highlighted Machado’s commitment to freedom and stressed the need to achieve a transition that is peaceful and respects the will of the Venezuelan people.
“I received María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Together, we discussed her commitment to freedom and the importance of achieving a democratic, peaceful transition in Venezuela that respects the will of its people,” he wrote.
For her part, Machado expressed her “deep gratitude” to Macron and to France for their support of democracy and freedom in Venezuela.
“We have gone through a long and painful journey, and we are now very close to freedom. Venezuela will become a nation of free and equal men and women—prosperous, safe, and united,” she said.
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