The United States and Iran are moving toward extending their fragile ceasefire for another 60 days, with mediators working on an interim agreement that could create a framework for broader talks on Tehran’s nuclear program and regional security issues, according to a report in the Financial Times. People briefed on the talks told the newspaper that the proposed agreement includes a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, phased sanctions relief for Tehran, easing of the US blockade of Iranian ports and discussions on Iran’s reserves of highly enriched uranium. The talks are aimed at preventing a new round of military confrontation between Washington and Tehran.US Iran War News – Follow Live UpdatesIranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmael Baghai said on Saturday that Tehran was discussing a “memorandum of understanding” to formally end the war as a first step before broader talks in the next 30 to 60 days.“We are now finalizing this MoU,” Baghai said.Also read: Trump connection? How does Iran finance its war machine?The proposed extension comes amid fears that President Donald Trump could resume attacks on Iran if talks fail, potentially escalating a conflict that has already destabilized large parts of the Middle East.

What does the proposed agreement reportedly include?

According to diplomats involved in the talks, one of the central elements of the agreement is the phased reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important shipping route through which a large share of global oil exports passes. Gulf countries are particularly concerned that a prolonged conflict could disrupt maritime trade and trigger fresh energy shocks around the world.The agreement will also reportedly include discussions on Iran’s stockpile of approximately 440 kilograms of uranium enriched near weapons-grade levels. Washington wants Tehran to either dilute the material or move it elsewhere as part of a broader nuclear understanding.In return, the United States is expected to ease sanctions on Iranian ports and gradually move toward providing sanctions relief and freeing up Iranian assets held abroad.

Why is conversation important?

Mediators believe a 60-day extension could help stabilize the situation enough for comprehensive diplomatic talks to take shape. Giving information about the talks, a diplomat said that progress is being made.“The agreement is going in the right direction. It is now up to the Americans for review,” the diplomat said.“The Iranians are probably willing to give up more on nuclear energy, but they won’t do so as long as the war continues – this deal helps bridge the gap,” the diplomat said.The talks gained momentum after Pakistani and Qatari negotiators held discussions with Iranian officials in Tehran on Thursday and Friday. Pakistan later said the talks had led to “encouraging progress towards a final understanding” between the US and Iran.The mediation effort reportedly included regular contacts with US envoy Steve Witkoff, while the Iranian delegation was led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

What are the stuck points?

Despite signs of diplomatic movement, deep disagreements remain unresolved. One of the biggest obstacles is Trump’s demand that Iran completely abandon any path to a nuclear weapons capability.The US President has reportedly insisted that Iran hand over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and dismantle its three major nuclear facilities at the Natanz Nuclear Facility, the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant and the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center. The facilities were targeted during US strikes following Washington’s involvement in Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran last June.Enriched uranium is believed to be buried beneath the debris of those facilities, particularly in Isfahan.Meanwhile, Iranian leaders have continued to insist that they will not give up their sovereign rights.Ghalibaf told Pakistani negotiators that Tehran would not back down from its “rights”, especially when dealing with the United States, which “is not honest and cannot be trusted”.At the same time, he said Iran is willing to pursue diplomacy to secure its “legitimate rights and interests.”Baghai also cautioned that talks remain delicate.Baghai said, “On the one hand, we have the experience of contradictory statements and changing stances from the American side. They have put forward contradictory positions many times.” “We cannot be completely sure that this approach will not change.”“On the other hand, the idea [of the two sides] Coming closer, not in the sense that we have reached any agreement on such important issues, but in the sense that we can reach a mutually satisfactory solution based on certain parameters,” he said.

Why are Gulf countries worried?

Regional powers including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are closely watching the talks as renewed conflict could destabilize the Gulf region and worsen the global energy crisis.Trump said earlier this week that the United States had postponed new strikes on Iran while “serious talks” continued. He said Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE had requested Washington to suspend military operations.Regional allies fear that if US-Israeli strikes resume, Iran could retaliate by targeting Gulf states and disrupting energy infrastructure and shipping routes across the region.

Foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes in Canada can now delay deportation proceedings under revised Immigration Tribunal guidelines that come into effect next month.The updated policy takes effect June 1 and broadens the criteria for postponing admissibility hearings. These hearings determine whether a foreign national can remain in Canada or whether he or she must be deported after a criminal conviction.Under the new guidance, tribunal members will be allowed to consider ongoing criminal appeals when deciding whether to delay proceedings. Previously, such requests were to be granted only in “exceptional circumstances”, and pending appeals were “not generally sufficient reason” to postpone hearings.The revised rules direct decision makers to assess a number of factors before granting a delay, including “whether the appeal has been filed and the likelihood that it will be completed in a timely manner.”Members are also expected to consider whether “the outcome of the appeal may render the case.” [Immigration Division] leading to unnecessary proceedings”, as well as “prejudice to the parties” and whether adjourning the hearing would “unreasonably delay the proceedings”.There has been political backlash over these changes, with the Conservatives warning that they could make it easier for convicted foreign nationals to remain in Canada long-term.Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner criticized the policy, saying it risks creating weaker outcomes for serious criminal offenders.“Instead of changing IRB guidance that could open the door to more delays that would allow non-citizens convicted of serious crimes to stay here in Canada, the Liberals should support one law for all and deport when the law requires them to do so,” he wrote in an email.He also urged Immigration Minister Lina Metlez Diab to intervene, saying that the minister should “clearly direct the IRB to enforce the consequences already set out in law for deporting non-citizens convicted of serious crimes in Canada.”Under Canadian law, foreign nationals convicted of serious criminal offences, including organized crime activity or crimes punishable by at least 10 years in prison, may be declared inadmissible and deported.According to Canada Border Services Agency data, 934 foreign nationals were deported in 2025 after being deemed inadmissible due to criminality. Another 260 were laid off in the first quarter of this year. Authorities deported 132 people last year for cross-border criminality and 98 for organized crime ties.Before deportation can occur, the Immigration Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board must first hold a formal admissibility hearing.James Joseph, a former IRB adjudicator and former director of policy at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, warned that the revised guidance could encourage offenders to appeal against convictions merely to delay removal proceedings.He said, “Canadian law states that if a foreign national or permanent resident is convicted of a sufficiently serious crime, they must leave Canada. That is the will of Parliament, as expressed in the laws of Canada.”He added: “Who does the IRB think is going to undermine Canadian law by imposing a policy that would suspend inadmissibility hearings which are a necessary step in the deportation of serious criminals from Canada?”The IRB defended the policy, saying the updated guidelines were intended to improve consistency, fairness, and transparency in the way requests for deferrals are handled. The board also noted that if officers believe a person is a danger to the public, the Canada Border Services Agency has the power to arrest and detain them while proceedings continue.

Iranian-born founder Kiana Ehsani reacts to the new green card rule.

Iranian-American founder Kiana Ehsani reacted to the new green card rules and shared a heartbreaking update on her life. Although she is not a green card applicant, and is already a green card holder, Ehsani said the situation is no better for her. Ehsani said, “Today I had to go to Turkey for my wedding.” He said that his wedding had to be canceled because all flights to and from Iran have been canceled and his family cannot leave Iran.Ehsani said they chose Turkiye for the wedding because it is close to Iran. She was to get married on a boat in the Mediterranean Sea at sunset, accompanied by close family members from both sides.Instead of going to Turkey, he said, he learned of new green card rules that require applicants to return to their home countries to apply. He wrote, “This means that every Iranian friend of mine who is here on a visa will have to go back home (on what flight?) to get a green card??? As if it’s that simple? We all know it is a huge challenge for Iranians to go back to the US (waiting months and months for a visa, with the possibility of never coming back).”Ehsani said he has been in the United States for 11 years and has been a green card holder for five years, which makes him eligible to apply for citizenship. But it doesn’t matter because Iranians are no longer allowed any kind of immigration due to the US-Iran war.“And it’s a typical Friday for an Iranian. These days, when people ask how I’m doing and handling everything, I just say: It’s fine, it’s fine. Someday it’ll be fine. But the reality is: Nothing is fine. I’m in constant pain. I haven’t seen my family and loved ones for years, I barely hear about their well-being, and I’m constantly worried about them. I just lose myself in work. Because it’s the only distraction that bothers me.” Can keep me from losing my mind. I am not well. None of us are okay. We’re barely keeping it together…” she wrote.Ehsani, a PhD in computer science from the University of Washington, was a co-founder of Vercept, which has now been acquired by Anthropic.

US President Donald Trump on Friday shrugged off criticism from his opponents as he boasted about his cognitive abilities and intelligence during a rally in New York, saying he doesn’t mind being called a “tyrant” or a “dictator”, but he strongly objects to being called “dumb”. “I don’t mind being called a brilliant absolute dictator,” Trump told supporters, “but I don’t want to be called an idiot.” The comments came during a campaign-style appearance in New York’s Hudson Valley with Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, where Trump repeatedly strayed from the economic message and launched into a lengthy defense of his intelligence and mental intensity. At one point, Trump said that criticism surrounding his cognitive fitness prompted him to take a cognitive assessment, which he claimed to have successfully passed. He later told the audience, “I’m the smartest person you’ve ever met.” The nearly 90-minute speech switched rapidly between topics including inflation, crime, immigration, voter ID laws, transgender athletes and a dig at his predecessor Joe Biden. Trump repeatedly mocked Democrats during the event, referring to them as “Democrats”, a term he has used frequently in recent days, while urging supporters to stay politically engaged ahead of the congressional elections. “You have to go vote,” he said, “otherwise this is a rigged election.” The rally was held in support of Lawler, one of the few House Republicans representing a district won by Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. New York’s 17th Congressional District is expected to be one of the most competitive House races in the country and could play a key role in deciding control of Congress. The event also focused on last year’s expansion of the federal deduction for state and local taxes, commonly known as SALT, an issue of major importance in high-tax states like New York. Trump praised Lawler for aggressively pushing the measure through Congress and joked, “I call him Mr. Salt.” Lawler later thanked Trump for supporting the expansion and said the measure provided significant tax relief to residents of his district. Wearing a red “Mr. Salt” hat, the congressman said that more than 90 percent of families in the district are now able to completely deduct their state and local taxes. During the speech, Trump also defended his macroeconomic agenda. “I’ve cut your taxes, cut taxes on workers, families, small businesses, who are the soul of this state,” he said. “These are all Republican tax cuts. The Democrats voted against every single one of these tax cuts.” The appearance comes as the White House seeks to refocus Trump’s economic record amid declining approval ratings linked to inflation concerns and rising fuel prices following the Iran conflict.

Shamir Chandran was accused of coercive behavior and was wanted by the police

An Indian-origin cancer specialist has been struck off the UK medical register after a tribunal ruled his criminal conviction made him a risk to the public, meaning he can no longer practice medicine in the UK, a more serious sanction than being fired from his job.Shameer Chandran, an oncologist who previously worked at Newcastle Hospital, was sentenced to four years in prison in November after pleading guilty to two counts of controlling and coercive behavior and one count of cruelty to a person under 16.According to the BBC, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) has now ordered that his name be struck from the medical register.According to the BBC, Chandran did not attend his criminal trial or disciplinary proceedings at Carlisle Crown Court. Reports say he has fled the UK and there is an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Cumbria Police confirmed he was wanted.The tribunal described the crimes as serious and said the behavior involved repeated actions against vulnerable individuals.“It was directed at people who were vulnerable and contained elements of premeditation – seeking to obtain financial benefit from [his victim] Through intimidation,” the report said.The MPTS also found that Chandran had shown no understanding of the seriousness of his actions or their impact: “The tribunal considered that there was a real risk of him causing harm to someone in the future.”The tribunal said that allowing him to continue practicing medicine would seriously damage public confidence in the profession.Emails included in tribunal documents show Chandran criticized his treatment in Britain and said his medical career had been ruined.“I no longer care about the proceedings, as my career has already been destroyed,” he wrote to the General Medical Council (GMC).“I am completely disappointed with the way I was treated in the UK and I will never work in that country again. They treated me like a common criminal without caring about what I had to say and the impact of what they were doing.”Tribunal documents also revealed that Chandran had resigned from his NHS role and left the UK following the GMC’s action against him.“Due to the GMC’s action, I have had to resign from my job and leave the UK. I don’t know how I can help with these proceedings now, as I am not currently working,” he said in another email.Chandran received his MBBS degree from the University of Calicut Academy of Medical Sciences in Pariyaram, Kerala. He later told GMC that he no longer wanted to continue practicing oncology and began working with a friend in a private business while rebuilding his life.However, the tribunal said there was no evidence that he had accepted responsibility or taken steps to remedy his conduct.

Paradeep Singh’s wife Kamal had reached New Zealand from India six months ago to start a new life with him.

What started as yard work for an Indian-origin couple in New Zealand ended in tragedy when a falling tree branch killed Paradeep Singh, leaving his newly arrived wife with no family, income or support system in the country.Singh was known as Deep to his friends and family. He died this week while carrying out maintenance work on his home in Cambridge, Waikato. He was working outside with others on a holiday when the fatal accident occurred.According to eyewitnesses, Singh was helping in cutting tree branches when he suffered serious head injuries. Friends believe that he may have been injured by a bouncing branch or by equipment being used during work.A spokesperson for the couple’s friends and family told 1News, “A branch hit him on the left side of his head, and may have caused some internal damage.”Hearing his scream, people nearby ran for help.“Paradeep screamed and everyone immediately ran towards him and called the emergency services,” the spokesperson said.Police said officers were called to the property at around 3.15pm to assist ambulance crews. St. John’s later confirmed that it had dispatched a rapid response unit and an operations manager to the scene, but Singh was pronounced dead there. The case has now been referred to the coroner.Singh moved to New Zealand in 2023 and worked as operations manager for a horticulture business. Friends said he was the sole earning member of the family and used to financially support his elderly parents in India, including his paralyzed mother.His wife Kamal recently joined him in New Zealand after they got married about six months ago. Relatives say he has no immediate family in the country and has not yet settled down to a life there.A family spokesperson said, “She came here for him.”He added: “He has no source of income, no money, from my understanding he hasn’t even opened a bank account yet.”Another friend said: “She has no money, no support system, and she’s completely alone at the moment.”The couple had planned to apply for residency in New Zealand and later come back to India for the wedding ceremony with relatives and friends.Friends and local community members have now launched a campaign to bring Singh’s body back to India for cremation and raise funds to support Kamal after the tragedy.Organizers said, “His family is facing unimaginable grief and is in need of immediate assistance.”