Iran Demands Sanctions Relief In Response To US Peace Offer

Iran has formally submitted its response to the latest United States proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, using Pakistan as a mediator, as tensions continue to rise over the future of the fragile ceasefire between both sides.

According to reports by Al Jazeera and Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed on Monday that Tehran’s latest position had been delivered to Washington through Pakistani intermediaries.

“The points raised are Iranian demands that have been firmly defended by the Iranian negotiating team in every round of negotiations,” Baghaei said during a press briefing.

The diplomatic exchanges come amid growing uncertainty surrounding a ceasefire that largely halted six weeks of fighting involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

Talks mediated by Pakistan have reportedly stalled in recent days, with US President Donald Trump warning that the truce was “on life support.”

Iran’s latest demands reportedly include the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad, the lifting of US sanctions, compensation for war-related damages, and the removal of what Tehran described as a blockade on Iranian ports.

Iran is also insisting on a complete halt to hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon, where Israeli military operations and airstrikes have reportedly continued despite ceasefire arrangements.

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According to Iranian media outlet Fars News Agency, the latest US proposal presented a five-point framework that conditioned a permanent cessation of hostilities on Tehran entering formal peace negotiations with Washington.

The proposal reportedly included demands for Iran to maintain only one operational nuclear facility and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the United States.

Washington has also reportedly pressed Iran to dismantle key elements of its nuclear programme and ease restrictions affecting navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategic oil shipping routes.

Before the conflict escalated, the Strait of Hormuz reportedly handled nearly one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports.

Iran, however, has maintained that it would continue to oversee activities around the waterway, which has remained partially disrupted since the beginning of the war.

Fars also claimed that the United States had refused to release “even 25 percent” of Iran’s frozen assets or agree to reparations for damages caused during the conflict.

Over the weekend, Trump intensified pressure on Tehran in a post shared on Truth Social.

“The Clock is Ticking,” Trump wrote, warning that Iran “better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!”

Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced plans to urge G7 finance ministers to align with US sanctions aimed at cutting off financing to what he described as Iran’s “war machine.”

US news outlet Axios also reported that Trump is expected to meet national security advisers on Tuesday to discuss possible options for renewed military action should negotiations collapse completely.

Analysts say concerns are growing that hostilities could resume within days if diplomacy fails.

Mohamad Elmasry, a professor of media studies at the Doha Institute of Graduate Studies, told Al Jazeera that competing influences within the Trump administration and pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could push Washington back toward military confrontation.

Despite the mounting pressure, Iranian officials insist the country is prepared for any escalation.

“As for their threats, rest assured that we are fully aware of how to respond appropriately to even the smallest mistake from the opposing side,” Baghaei said during the televised briefing.

The developments have continued to trigger concerns across global energy markets and diplomatic circles, with fears that a collapse of negotiations could further destabilise the Middle East and disrupt international oil supplies.

Iran Demands Sanctions Relief In Response To US Peace Offer

Man ‘Allowed’ Landlord to Rape His Wife, Daughter to Settle Unpaid Rent

MORBI, India – In a shocking case of exploitation and betrayal, a labourer and his landlord have been arrested in Gujarat’s Morbi district after police uncovered a horrific arrangement where the husband allegedly allowed the landlord to repeatedly rape his wife and 13-year-old daughter in exchange for waiving off pending house rent of just ₹2,000 per month.

The case has sparked outrage across the country, highlighting how extreme financial distress can lead to unimaginable human rights violations. Police have registered charges under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

How the Exploitation Began

According to the First Information Report (FIR) and police statements, the family—originally from Surendranagar—had moved to Morbi six months ago in search of work. They rented a house for ₹2,000 per month. However, as the husband’s financial condition worsened and his small business failed, they fell behind on rent for three to four months.

Police Inspector Y.B. Jadeja of Morbi ‘A’ Division stated that the landlord, aged 55, took advantage of the family’s desperation. Instead of pursuing legal recourse for the unpaid rent, he allegedly proposed a criminal “oral agreement” : sexual favours from the labourer’s wife in exchange for clearing the rent debt.

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Father’s Alleged Consent Led to Repeated Assaults

Shockingly, police investigations revealed that the husband consented to the arrangement. Following this, the landlord allegedly raped the woman multiple times—at their rented home, at the landlord’s residence, and at another property in Tankara.

The situation escalated when the landlord’s demands turned to the couple’s minor daughter, aged 13. According to police, the father again gave his consent, leading to the serial sexual abuse of the child by the landlord and another individual.

How the Case Came to Light

The cycle of abuse might have continued indefinitely had it not been for police intelligence. Officers received confidential information about the exploitation and began discreet inquiries. When they confronted the family, the husband allegedly tried to send his daughter away to relatives to evade investigation.

Police traced the maternal grandmother of the minor victim (the wife’s mother), who was unaware of the atrocities. Disturbed by the revelations, she filed a formal complaint on April 24 (or May 1 per some sources), triggering the formal legal process.

Arrests and Legal Action

Following the complaint, Morbi Police swiftly arrested:

• The landlord (55) – Charged with rape under BNS and POCSO Act.

• The labourer (husband/father) – Charged with abetment of rape for consenting to the crimes against his own wife and child.

A third accused—a relative or aide of the landlord—is currently absconding and is accused of raping the wife. Police have formed special teams to track him down.

The landlord was initially remanded to one day of police custody before being sent to judicial custody. The father has been sent to jail. The case has been registered under stringent sections of the BNS and the POCSO Act.

Official Statements

Deputy Superintendent of Police J.M. Lal confirmed the arrests and stated that investigations are ongoing. “We have recorded the statements of the victims and collected forensic evidence. The third accused will be arrested soon,” he said.

No comment has yet been issued by the landlord or the labourer’s legal representatives.

A Grim Reminder of Vulnerability

This case has reignited debates about tenant rights, economic coercion as a tool for sexual exploitation, and the failure of social safety nets. Child rights activists have demanded the strictest punishment under the POCSO Act, including the possibility of the death penalty for the landlord and the father as an abettor.

Man ‘Allowed’ Landlord to Rape His Wife, Daughter to Settle Unpaid Rent

Trump, Xi Fail To Reach Major Deal As Tariff, Rare Earth Tensions Continue

A high-stakes summit between United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping ended without major breakthroughs on tariffs and rare earth exports, leaving key disputes between the world’s two largest economies unresolved despite renewed diplomatic engagement.

The meeting, held in Beijing, came amid ongoing tensions over trade, technology, and supply chains that have strained relations between Washington and Beijing for years.

Although both leaders projected optimism and pledged to maintain dialogue, the summit produced few concrete commitments, disappointing many investors and global business leaders who had hoped for a broader easing of trade restrictions.

Trump’s trade policies toward China remain one of the central sticking points in the relationship. During his first term, the US president imposed sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports and encouraged American companies to relocate manufacturing operations away from China.

While tariff levels have fallen from the triple-digit figures briefly reached last year, duties on Chinese goods entering the United States still stand at nearly 48 per cent, according to Chad Bown of the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Both countries had reached a temporary truce in October last year under which Washington agreed to reduce some tariffs while Beijing maintained exports of critical rare earth materials to the United States. However, that agreement is due to expire in November.

Speaking after the summit, Trump revealed that tariff issues were not directly discussed during his conversations with Xi, raising uncertainty over whether the current arrangement would be extended.

“We did not discuss tariffs,” Trump told reporters.

Foreign policy analysts say extending the truce would have been the minimum achievement expected from the summit.

Patricia Kim, a foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Institution, described any extension of the agreement as “the most basic benchmark” for measuring the success of the meeting.

One of the most contentious unresolved issues remains China’s restrictions on rare earth exports.

Beijing imposed export controls on rare earth materials in response to Trump’s aggressive tariff measures introduced in April 2025. The restrictions have since disrupted supply chains for major American industries, including semiconductor manufacturers and aerospace companies.

United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping

Rare earth elements are essential for the production of advanced technologies such as electric vehicles, semiconductors, radar systems, submarines, Tomahawk missiles, and F-35 fighter jets.

China currently dominates the global market, accounting for approximately 90 per cent of the world’s processed rare earths and magnets.

Analysts say Beijing’s ability to control supplies has become a major strategic advantage in its rivalry with Washington.

While the United States has accelerated efforts to build domestic rare earth supply chains, industry experts note that the country still lacks sufficient capacity to process and separate heavy rare earth materials independently.

The summit also failed to deliver major gains for leading American corporations that accompanied Trump to Beijing.

The US president arrived with a powerful delegation of business executives, including Tim Cook of Apple, Jensen Huang of Nvidia, Kelly Ortberg of Boeing and Elon Musk of Tesla.

However, expected business deals either failed to materialise or fell short of expectations.

Boeing shares dropped sharply after Trump announced that China would purchase 200 Boeing aircraft — significantly below earlier expectations of about 500 planes. Trump later stated that China could potentially buy as many as 750 aircraft in the future, but no binding agreement was announced.

The lack of clarity unsettled investors, with Boeing stock falling further in pre-market trading on Friday.

There was also no breakthrough regarding the sale of Nvidia’s advanced H200 artificial intelligence chips to China, despite Huang’s participation in the summit discussions.

US officials disclosed that both countries agreed on deals involving American agricultural exports and made progress on mechanisms aimed at managing future trade relations. According to officials, both sides are expected to identify up to $30 billion worth of non-sensitive goods for trade cooperation.

Trump also suggested that China could increase purchases of American oil. US Energy Secretary officials claimed Beijing had expressed interest in buying more US crude oil, although Chinese authorities did not publicly confirm any agreement or provide figures.

Business leaders remain cautious despite the renewed diplomatic engagement.

A senior American executive based in China told the Financial Times that while broader trade cooperation would be welcomed, companies still require “clarity” on timelines, tariffs, and the unresolved rare earth dispute.

Xi, meanwhile, sought to reassure foreign investors by declaring that China’s market would continue opening to international businesses.

“China’s door to business will only open wider and wider,” the Chinese president said during meetings with American executives.

Despite the optimistic rhetoric, the summit ended with few tangible outcomes, underscoring the deep economic and strategic divisions that continue to define US-China relations.

Trump, Xi Fail To Reach Major Deal As Tariff, Rare Earth Tensions Continue