Iran signaled a willingness to consider compromises to revive the nuclear deal with the United States, according to a recent interview with the BBC. This comes as US forces boarded a second oil tanker in the Indian Ocean linked to Venezuela, and as other international events unfold.
In an interview with the BBC in Tehran, Iran's deputy foreign minister, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, stated that Iran was ready to discuss compromises if the US was willing to lift sanctions. US officials, however, have repeatedly emphasized that Iran is holding up progress in the protracted negotiating process. On Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump preferred a deal but that it was "very hard to do" one with Iran.
Meanwhile, US military forces boarded another sanctioned tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking the vessel from the Caribbean Sea. This action is part of an effort to target illicit oil connected to Venezuela, the Pentagon said on Sunday. Venezuela has faced US sanctions on its oil for several years, relying on a shadow fleet of falsely flagged tankers to smuggle crude into global supply chains. Donald Trump ordered a quarantine of sanctioned tankers in December to pressure the president, Nicolás Maduro, before Maduro was apprehended in January during a US military operation.
In other news, diplomats in Havana are preparing for a potential shift in US tactics regarding Cuba. According to The Guardian, ambassadors from countries traditionally allied to the United States are expressing increasing frustration with Washington's attempt to unseat Cuba's government. They are simultaneously drawing up plans to address the country's economic struggles, which have been exacerbated by a lack of fuel, tourists, and cash.
Elsewhere, Prince Andrew is facing further scrutiny. Emails published in the Telegraph suggest that in 2010, the then Prince Andrew requested information from Treasury officials on banking problems in Iceland. This briefing was then shared with Jonathan Rowland, a business connection of Andrew's, whose father David Rowland took over part of a failing Icelandic bank. This has led to more pressure on the former prince over claims that he misused his public role by giving official information to private associates.
Finally, the UK is grappling with economic challenges. While the national economy faces sluggish figures, the city of Manchester is experiencing a period of growth. According to Faisal Islam, economics editor at BBC Business, the city's regeneration plans, supported by central governments across the political spectrum, are "flowering." This has led to questions about whether Manchester could serve as a model for kickstarting growth across the UK.
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