Iran receives new US proposals for Middle East peace talks
via SeneNews2 min read
Iran has received "new proposals" from the United States for discussions aimed at achieving a lasting peace in the Middle East, according to the Supreme National Security Council on Saturday. The council stated that Iranian negotiators would make "no compromise." A two-week ceasefire, initiated after an Israeli-American attack on Iran on February 28, took effect on April 8. Discussions between Iran and the United States on April 11 in Islamabad to secure a lasting end to the conflict were unsuccessful, and both countries are seeking to resume negotiations through Pakistan. The Security Council, cited by the official Irna news agency, reported that the new proposals were presented by the Americans during the Pakistani army commander's recent visit to Tehran, acting as a mediator. Iran is currently reviewing these proposals and has not yet responded. The council emphasized that the Iranian negotiation team would defend the interests of the Iranian nation and the sacrifices made in the war to preserve Iran's independence and pride. While Mr. Trump asserts that a peace agreement is "very close," the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister indicated that no date has been set for further discussions. The war has resulted in thousands of deaths and impacted the global economy, partly due to Iran's blocking of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes. After initially deciding to reopen it, Iran announced Saturda
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 10 countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Must ReadPan-African activist Kemi Seba was arrested on April 13 in South Africa with his son, Khonsou. Both are currently in provisional detention, linked to an alleged attempt to illegally cross the border into Zimbabwe. Seba is accused of trying to cross the Limpopo River with the help of an intermediary, François Van der Merwe, who was also arrested. He is alleged to have paid 250,000 rands for this attempt. The arrest has generated various reactions within pan-Africanist circles. However, Nathalie Yamb, often described as close to Kemi Seba, has not publicly reacted, which has raised questions given her usual activity on social media. No official explanation has been provided for her silence, leading to speculation about their current relationship or a deliberate communication choice. Concurrently, an audio recording was released by the YouTube channel "Décrypter l’Afrique." In this recording, a voice identified as Kemi Seba's criticizes certain political figures and dynamics, particularly within the Alliance of Sahel States. The authenticity of this recording has not been independently confirmed, but its content is already generating reactions due to the statements attributed to the activist. The voice in the recording expresses distance from certain political and media practices and criticizes regional leaders. If these statements are proven true, they could shed light on developments in Kemi Seba's positions on the pan-African scene.
In Dakar, the price of a bag of peanut hay, known as "Ngooñ" in Wolof, has sharply increased from 4,000 to 9,000 FCfa in less than a month. This surge is alarming livestock farmers, who are already struggling with a lack of alternatives in the capital. The general rise in livestock feed prices ahead of Tabaski is expected to lead to an increase in sheep prices this year. Farmers like Pape Malé Diagne emphasize that hay is essential for ruminants. Resellers, including Sidi Bara Ba and Khadim Ba, who are among the largest livestock feed sellers in Keur Mbaye Fall, express their discomfort with the situation, stating they do not understand the sudden and unjustified price hike. Sidi Bara Ba notes that an increase is usually observed closer to the rainy season, when hay from the previous peanut harvest helps bridge the lean period in the interior of the country. However, he believes the current timing is abnormal and suggests bad faith is at play. Ousmane Dramé, another experienced reseller, also points out the poor quality of the product despite its high price. Sidi Bara Ba is even considering stopping the sale of peanut hay after Tabaski due to the unfair pricing and underfilled bags. Some customers are now seeking alternative feed options as the economic viability of traditional feed becomes questionable.
Must ReadElon Musk is expected to appear for a voluntary hearing in Paris on Monday as part of a French judicial investigation into his social network X. The investigation, which began with a search of X's premises in early February, focuses on alleged abuses on the platform. Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino are being targeted as de facto and de jure managers of the platform at the time of the alleged incidents, according to Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau. The investigation includes suspicions of complicity in possessing child pornography and contesting crimes against humanity. X has called the judicial action "abusive" and politically motivated, denying any wrongdoing and stating it will not be intimidated. The social network claims the Paris prosecutor's office is attempting to pressure X's US management by targeting its French entity. French authorities also notified US authorities, who, according to a Wall Street Journal report, have sided with X. The US Justice Department's Office of International Affairs believes the Parisian investigation violates the First Amendment regarding freedom of expression, viewing the requests to US authorities as an attempt to involve the US in a politically sensitive criminal proceeding aimed at "abusively regulating" X's activities. The preliminary investigation into X began in early 2025 with reports of algorithmic bias and later expanded to include concerns about Grok, X's integrated AI tool, which allegedly disseminated revisionist content
Must ReadIran announced on Saturday that it would resume strict control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, reversing a brief reopening. This decision comes in response to the continued US blockade of Iranian ports and prompted an immediate reaction from Donald Trump, who denounced it as "blackmail." This escalation occurs amidst diplomatic efforts to resolve the Middle East conflict, following a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States that began on April 8. Tehran stated it is reviewing new proposals from Washington but, through its Supreme National Security Council, indicated that no compromise would be accepted. While the US President speaks of a nearing agreement, Iranian authorities maintain a firm stance. Iran announced its intention to control traffic in the Strait of Hormuz until the war ends, retracting its previous day's decision to allow a limited number of commercial vessels to pass. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Saeed Khatibzadeh asserted that the United States cannot impose a siege on Iran. Donald Trump, for his part, rejected any notion of pressure, accusing Tehran of playing a dangerous game. On the ground, the situation remains tense. While some ships passed through the strait during its temporary reopening, others were targeted or threatened by Iranian forces after its renewed closure, according to the British agency UKMTO. Two Indian-flagged vessels were affected, leading to the summoning of the Iranian ambassador in New Delhi. The Revolutionary Gu