International

The White House insists that the United States remains in contact with Iran

The White House indicated on Monday that Washington is still in contact with Tehran, despite what was said today by President Donald Trump, who said he was not talking to representatives of Iran, after the United States bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities executed more than a week ago.

“As I already told you from this podium last week; the administration, and in particular our special envoy (for the Middle East), Steve Witkoff, have been in communication, both directly and indirectly, with the Iranians,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt explained at a press conference today.

“That communication continues, but the president himself has not spoken directly with Iran, something he highlighted in his statement on Truth (Social),” Leavitt added in reference to the online message written shortly before by the president.

“I’m not offering Iran ANYTHING, unlike Obama, who paid them billions of dollars under the stupid ‘Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) aimed at a nuclear weapon’ (which would now have expired!), I’m not even talking to them since WE totally DESTROYED their nuclear facilities,” Trump wrote today.

Signed in 2015 between Iran, the United States, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the European Union (EU), the JCPOA agreed to control Iranian nuclear developments in favor of lifting sanctions against Tehran.

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Trump himself in his first term (2017-2021) withdrew his country from the pact because he considered that it did not undermine the atomic capacities of the Islamic nation enough or that it favored the financing of regional groups related to Iran.

On the other hand, Leavitt did not want to answer today when he was asked about whether the talks between Washington and Tehran have the possibility of focusing on aspects beyond the nuclear program; such as the aforementioned related groups – such as the Houthi or Hizbulá -, the Iranian ballistic missile program or the possibility of resuming bilateral trade relations.

International

Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids

Ecuador’s Armed Forces carried out an operation on Monday — including airstrikes — against illegal mining in the town of Buenos Aires, in the country’s north, Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo reported.

The mountainous, gold-rich area has been a hotspot for illegal mining since 2017, located in the Andean province of Imbabura.

In 2019, former president Lenín Moreno deployed around 2,400 soldiers to the region in an attempt to curb the illegal activity. “The operation began with mortar fire, followed by gunfire and bombing runs by Supertucano aircraft,” Loffredo said in a video released by the Defense Ministry.

He added that the operation would continue on Tuesday with patrols across the area to locate possible members of “irregular armed groups that may have crossed from the Colombian border.”

The Armed Forces stated on X that the intervention focused on the “complete elimination of multiple illegal mining tunnels” in the areas known as Mina Nueva and Mina Vieja.

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The operation coincided with the deployment of a military and police convoy into Imbabura, which has been the epicenter of protests against President Daniel Noboa since September 22, following his decision to scrap the diesel subsidy.

International

Caracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win

Venezuela has announced the closure of its embassy in Norway, just days after opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Venezuelan diplomatic mission provided no explanation for its decision on Monday.

“It is regrettable,” a ministry spokesperson said. “Despite our differences on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue with Venezuela open and will continue to work in that direction.” The ministry also emphasized that the Nobel Committee operates entirely independently from the Norwegian government.

In its announcement, the Nobel Committee stated that Machado met the criteria established by Alfred Nobel, “embodying the hope for a different future, where the fundamental rights of Venezuelans are heard.”

International

Sheinbaum: Urgent to restore access to towns cut off by heavy rains

Thousands of military personnel and civilians in Mexico worked tirelessly on Tuesday to clear roads blocked by the torrential rains of recent days, which have left more than 300 communities cut off across central and eastern regions of the country. Authorities also launched mass fumigation efforts in several affected areas to prevent the spread of dengue fever.

The official death toll remains at 64, though dozens of people are still missing. President Claudia Sheinbaumacknowledged that the government does not yet know the full situation in many of the isolated villages, which range in population from 500 to 1,000 inhabitants.

“The reopening of roads is one of the greatest urgencies,” Sheinbaum said. “It’s essential to guarantee air bridges, food supplies, clean water, and a proper census of the isolated communities so we can determine the condition of every person living there.”

Private construction companies are also assisting the effort with heavy machinery and technical support to help reopen highways and reconnect rural areas.