International
The president of Iran reaffirms that his country will not give up its peaceful nuclear program
The president of Iran, Masud Pezeshkian, reaffirmed that his country will not give up the enrichment of uranium for peaceful purposes, although he assured that he takes seriously the nuclear negotiations with the United States, whose fourth round took place this Sunday.
“The dismantling of all Iran’s nuclear facilities is unacceptable,” Pezeshkian emphasized last night during an Iranian cabinet meeting, after the fourth round of negotiations between his country and the United States, according to the IRNA agency.
The Iranian president thus rejected the claims of the US authorities, who last week demanded the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“We will continue to promote these peaceful activities firmly,” Pezeshkian said in reference to his uranium enrichment program.
The president of Iran, however, indicated that his country takes nuclear negotiations with the United States seriously, since he “desires peace.”
The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, also insisted the day before after the fourth round of talks with the US, in Maskat (Oman), that the enrichment of uranium for peaceful purposes is not negotiable.
“The issue of enrichment is not negotiable in any way and must continue,” he said.
Araqchí said that it is possible that Tehran will accept “limitations in some aspects, such as their quantity, level or capacity.”
Despite the differences with the US negotiating team in this regard, the head of Iranian diplomacy described the negotiation as “useful” and said that the parties “have brought positions closer.”
“The topics are more complex, but the round was useful. Both parties better understand the magnitude of the differences. The positions have come closer,” said Araqchí.
The United States, for its part, called the fourth round of negotiations “encouraging” and pointed out that “an agreement was reached to advance the talks and continue working on the technical elements.”
A source from Donald Trump’s Administration told the press that the dialogue was again both direct and indirect and lasted more than three hours.
The two rivals reached the meeting with public differences over the atomic program of Tehran, which defends the enrichment of uranium for peaceful purposes, while Washington calls for its total dismantling.
The US special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, said on Friday in an interview with the American news portal Breitbart New that Tehran must abandon uranium enrichment completely.
Iran and the United States began talks on April 12, after US President Donald Trump called on Tehran to negotiate an agreement and threatened a military attack if a pact on its atomic program was not reached.
At the same time, Trump has reimposed the so-called “maximum pressure policy” against the Persian country, which he had already adopted in his first term (2017-2021) after abandoning the 2015 nuclear agreement.
After the US exit from the pact in 2018 and the reinstatement of sanctions, Tehran enriches uranium with a purity of 60%, very close to the 90% necessary to manufacture nuclear weapons.
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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