Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A series of international developments on Friday centred on the US-Iran agreement aimed at restoring peace in West Asia, with the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz emerging as a major moment for global energy security. The diplomatic push also brought focus on the conflict’s timeline, the key players involved, and political reactions in Washington.
At the same time, other developments involving India, Pakistan, the United Nations, the UK and the US drew attention, ranging from India’s sharp response to Pakistan at the UN and comments on the India-UK Free Trade Agreement to concerns over anti-India hate in the US, a UN message on yoga, and developments in Pakistan and Washington.
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The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz marked the end of nearly four months of disruption that had sent crude oil prices soaring and raised concerns over global energy supplies. The development came as an agreement to restore peace in West Asia came into effect following the signing of a memorandum of understanding by US President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian.
With the agreement taking effect and the Strait reopening, attention also turned to the timeline of the US-Iran conflict and the key players shaping diplomacy on all sides. In Washington, US Vice President JD Vance delayed his Switzerland trip for talks with Iranian negotiators, while the White House cited logistical issues.
Trump’s Iran deal also faced strong pushback from fellow Republicans, who said the pact did not prevent Tehran from enriching uranium and gave it a lot of money to fund its proxies. Vance stepped in to defend the agreement. In a related development, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said a Pakistani delegation would attend the funeral of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in the US-Israeli strikes in February.
At the United Nations, India hit back strongly at Pakistan, calling it a “Frankenstein state” that gets shocked when its “own monster bites back”. India also accused Islamabad of “hosting, training and deploying” terrorists.
In Paris, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the India-UK Free Trade Agreement was more than just about trade. He said it went beyond trade and technology and would open many doors for the people of both countries.
In Washington, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi voiced concern over the rise in anti-India hate incidents in the US and urged Americans to stand against bigotry, prejudice and discrimination. At the UN, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, marking the International Day of Yoga, said that from its deep roots in ancient India, yoga has become truly universal and helps millions of people of all faiths.
Elsewhere, Trump’s return from a visit to France on board Air Force One marked the final journey of the Boeing 747-200B aircraft that had ferried US presidents for the past 35 years, as a jet gifted by Qatar is set to join the fleet. In Pakistan, police said they had arrested the prime suspect in the double murder case of a Sikh caretaker couple who were shot dead inside a gurdwara in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Overall, the day’s developments were led by the US-Iran peace move and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, while diplomatic, political and security-related updates involving India, Pakistan, the UN, the UK and the US continued to unfold alongside it.
With PTI Inputs
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
