Trump warns Iran as nuclear tensions escalate
US President Donald Trump said Iran has refused nuclear inspections and continues to enrich uranium, warning that any attempt to restart its programme at new sites would be “a problem.” He will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to discuss Iran and a possible Gaza ceasefire, Al Jazeera reported.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the withdrawal of inspectors following joint US-Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. Iran denies wanting nuclear weapons, insisting that its program is civilian. However, the United States and Israel maintain that Tehran is working toward weaponization. Despite these accusations, neither US intelligence nor the IAEA have discovered substantial evidence of a nuclear weapons program. Talks about resuming inspections have stalled, according to Al Jazeera.
Iran’s oil sector booms despite sanctions
Iran’s energy sector is booming despite years of US-led sanctions. In 2024, oil output achieved a 46-year high, with energy exports hitting $78bn, up from $18bn in 2020, Firstpost reported.
Experts say sanctions are becoming increasingly ineffective as Iran, aided by China, continues to bypass restrictions using discreet shipping and non-dollar transactions. China now buys around 90 percent of Iran's oil.
Iran has also expanded exports of gas liquids and relies on the South Pars field for most of its gas production. The Revolutionary Guards have strengthened domestic infrastructure, reducing reliance on foreign partners, according to Firstpost.
Geopolitical tensions, including with Israel, have had minimal impact, keeping Iran’s oil industry resilient and well-funded.
China fears US focus shift if Russia loses, says Wang Yi
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told EU leaders that Beijing fears a Russian defeat in Ukraine could lead the US to shift its full focus toward confronting China. The remarks, made during talks with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, surprised Brussels officials, Firstpost reported.
Wang denied claims that China is arming Russia, saying if Beijing were providing real support, the war would be over. The Chinese foreign ministry declined to clarify his comments.
Ukraine's President Zelensky has accused China of supporting Russia while cutting off drone sales to Ukraine. Meanwhile, US military aid to Ukraine continues to decline with critical arms shipments halted on July 1.
China-Russia ties are strengthening ahead of a planned meeting between Xi and Putin in September, according to Firstpost.
Mexico’s President rejects Trump’s immigration policy
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday criticized US President Donald Trump’s proposed immigration plan, which includes $170bn for border security and detention centers. She voiced opposition to the US House-approved budget, saying migration should be addressed through cooperation, not repression, Xinhua reported.
At her daily briefing, Sheinbaum stressed the necessity of addressing migration at its root through development-based solutions. She credited Mexico for lowering border crossings, reporting only 220 arrests the day before—significantly lower than prior years' figures.
She also defended migrants from Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean, describing them as hardworking individuals who contribute to both their home countries through remittances and to the US economy through labor, according to BBC.
