Iran rejects Trump’s claims it asked for relaunch of nuclear talks

Iran says it has not requested talks with the United States over its nuclear programme, as claimed by US President Donald Trump.

“No request for a meeting has been made on our side to the American side,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Tuesday in comments carried by the country’s Tasnim news agency.

The clarification came a day after Trump, during a dinner in the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Iran was actively seeking negotiations on a new nuclear deal following the 12-day war with Israel last month, which the US also joined.

“We have scheduled Iran talks. They want to talk,” Trump told reporters. “They want to work something out. They are very different now than they were two weeks ago.”

Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff – also present during the dinner – had even said the meeting could take place in the next week or so.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in an opinion piece published in the Financial Times newspaper on Tuesday that Tehran remains interested in diplomacy but “we have good reason to have doubts about further dialogue”.

Sanctions relief

On June 13, Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign on Iran that targeted military and nuclear sites as well as residential areas, killing senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iranian authorities say the Israeli strikes killed at least 1,060 people. Israel says retaliatory drone and missile fire by Iran killed at least 28 people.

The US joined the war, bombing Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz, just days before a planned meeting between Tehran and Washington, DC on reviving the nuclear talks. Trump then went on to announce a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

The negotiations, aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief, would replace the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – a deal signed with the US, China, Russia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the European Union – which Trump ditched during his first term in office.

Floating the prospect of more talks on Monday, Trump also dangled the prospect of lifting punitive US sanctions on Iran, imposed after the US withdrawal from JCPOA, with further restrictions piled on this year.

This month, the US issued a new wave of sanctions against Iranian oil exports, the first penalties against Tehran’s energy sector since the US-backed ceasefire ended the war between Israel and Iran.

“I would love to be able to, at the right time, take those sanctions off,” said Trump.

Towards the end of last month, Trump said he was working on “the possible removal of sanctions”, but dropped his efforts after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed “victory” in the Iran-Israel war.

Tehran’s denial regarding talks with the US came after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told US journalist Tucker Carlson that Iran had “no problem” resuming talks so long as trust could be rebuilt between the two sides.

The interview, aired on Monday, provoked a backlash in Iran, with the critics accusing Pezeshkian of being “too soft” in the wake of last month’s attacks on the country.

“Have you forgotten that these same Americans, together with the Zionists, used the negotiations to buy time and prepare for the attack?” said an editorial in the hardline Kayhan newspaper.

The conservative Javan daily also took aim at Pezeshkian, saying his remarks appeared “a little too soft”.

Leeds sign Sweden left-back Gudmundsson from Lille

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Gabriel Gudmundsson has joined Leeds United from French side Lille as a left-back.

Following a £10 million move, the 26-year-old Sweden international has agreed to a four-year contract at Elland Road.

Last season, Gudmundsson made 45 appearances for a Lille team that finished fifth in the league, only to concede a goal difference penalty to Nice.

With 36 goals conceded, they also had the second-best defensive record in the French top division, only behind Paris St-Germain’s 35.

Prior to joining Lille in 2021, Gudmundsson had an 82.1% pass-through rate and two league goals in the 2024-2019 season.

He made nine Champions League appearances last year, finishing seventh overall in the league standings against Borussia Dortmund, and also having the ability to play wing and central defense.

Niklas Gudmundsson, a former Sweden international who played for Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town while also playing in England, is his son.

With the signings of German forward Lukas Nmecha and Sebastiaan Bornauw and Jaka Bijol, Gudmundsson becomes Leeds’ fourth signing this summer.

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History boy Heyes braced for Argentina backlash

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Second Test: Argentina vs. England

Saturday, July 12th, 2019 Kick-off: 20:40 BST Location: Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario

Joe Heyes and Julian Montoya lived together for five years. They appeared to have never met after 80 minutes on Saturday.

Heyes tells BBC Sport, “We didn’t really look at each other, we didn’t really say a word, and he just said, “I’ll see you next week,” “,” we said.

“I suppose we’ll probably have the drinks then,” she said.

I have a lot of respect for Julian, I am aware of his intensity as a competitor, and I am aware that Saturday will be the day of it.

Montoya’s disappointment was understandable.

The Argentina captain was simply perplexed by an England performance that lacked grit and glitter, with Heyes, his long-time Leicester teammate, at the center, in front of a enthralling crowd in La Plata.

The highlights included four second-half tries, but England’s victory was largely based on a gloriously defiant first-half defensive effort.

They outlasted the Pumas and even extended their lead to 3-0 with a George Ford drop-goal thanks to Alex Coles and Seb Atkinson’s yellow cards, who had them reduced to 13 men for the period.

One shuddering hit by Prop Heyes epitomized England’s hostility.

He recalls that I hit my right shoulder and injured my left shoulder in some way.

You’re aware that it was that big. Simply put, there were flying objects everywhere.

Julian Montoya and Joe HeyesRex Features

England held up Argentina over the line three times in the first half, betting that their ability to hold the ball back on the ground as they fought backwards to avoid a pressure-relieving drop-out under their own posts.

His swift pop from the base of a ruck to set up wing Tom Roebuck’s second try was as smooth as fresh tarmac, if Heyes modestly describes the skill as “turning himself into a human speed bump.”

He replies, “I got some nice compliments after that, with some surprise in it.”

“My dad said he wasn’t aware that I could leave my left.” Although I always believed I had it in my locker, I believe many people were surprised by it. I received both compliments and insults at once.

Heyes has been causing similar outbursts in Argentina’s front office.

He gives the rest of the squad the facts of the day, a self-proclaimed “history nause.”

He refers to one of his first-test items as “the “city of diagonals” and says, “La Plata is the “city of diagonals.”

The first urban-planned town in South America was it.

Milton Keynes’ replacement in Argentina?

“You’re probably not far away, but there’s a large cathedral in the middle.”

Heyes claims to be “a bit of a sucker for a cathedral.” Before Saturday’s second Test, the squad have already made their first official visit to San Juan’s cathedral.

He spent the morning making solo trips to Buenos Aires’ food markets, La Casa Rosada (the presidential palace), and the Metropolitan Cathedral, where Pope Francis was the archbishop.

He claims that “I’ve really been a bit of a culture vulture, getting sucked in” and “always been a bit of a vulture.”

“I love history a lot, but it’s a strange one. I would get the magazines and watch Horrible Histories on television as a child. I’ve always been fascinated by why things are the way they are and how history connects to history.

He is just the most recent England tighthead who has a past-related passion. The reading material for Stuart and Dan Cole is similarly heavy.

Heyes is unable to explain the phenomenon.

He responds, “I don’t know really,”

“Tightheads are people of the past, and looseheads are more up to date with current events, trends, and stuff,” apologists say. There, I worry I’m making a generalization.

Heyes is aware of the significance of a series win for his team-mates if they can work together once more to make history and headlines.

Being a team-mate of Julian’s and knowing that he is leading the team, he claims to be fully anticipating Argentina’s massive response.

“We can only make sure we’re in the right place, just like we did last Saturday,” the company said. We’re prepared for it.

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‘Kate Middleton’s response to difficult Macron gesture after wife’s snub speaks volumes’

The Princess of Wales was greeted by French President Emmanuel Macron with an unusual air kiss for the hand – and a body language expert has revealed what Kate’s reaction tells us

The Princess of Wales was greeted by French President Emmanuel Macron with an unusual air kiss for the hand – and an expert has revealed Kate’s reaction to it.

Both Kate and William were at RAF Northolt this morning to greet Macron and his wife Brigitte as they arrived in the UK for a state visit. As the couple emerged from their jet, the French leader offered his hand to his wife as she descended the stairs, but she declined his assistance. The president then warmly shook William’s hand and held onto his arm as they chatted. Mr Macron then took the princess’s hand and delivered a gallant air kiss towards it.

President Macron with the Princess of Wales (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Macron’s snub from his wife comes weeks after Brigitte appeared to slap him in the face during a heated argument on an official tour in Vietnam.

And despite Mrs Macron appearing to refuse her husband’s hand, body language expert Judi James says the French leader’s charm offensive could not be thwarted.

She told the Mirror : “Anyone expecting a repeat of the infamous ‘Shove de visage’ gesture from Brigitte to her husband as they stood at the entrance to their plane here would have been thwarted as this time Macron bounced out alone and Brigitte appeared a few seconds later to descend by herself.

“Would there be a display of performed coupledom from the pair then, who did seem to want to erase the push from our consciousness via some tender-looking arm-holding and affectionate glances during their actual visit to Vietnam?

Prince William greets Macron
Prince William greets Macron(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

“The suggestion here was a big fat ‘Non’. Despite holding his hand out to his wife like a showman presenting the lead star on stage, Brigitte appeared to ignore the offer, even turning quickly to greet her hosts rather than taking his hand in an affectionate clasp once both her feet were on the tarmac.

“But Macron’s charm offensive would not be thwarted. After a micro truncated ritual that hinted he might just have been going for a cheek-kiss to William, he settled for a handshake that he peppered with add-on hand grasps and clasps to suggest familiarity and friendship.”

And when it came to Kate, Judi revealed how the princess appeared to take his kissing gesture.

Brigitte Macron refused her husband's hand
Brigitte Macron refused her husband’s hand

She added: “When his display of gallantry became distilled into a quaintly antique air hand-kiss that he seemed to have fashioned out of her offered shake. This is a difficult ritual for the modern woman to respond to as it tends to prompt an embarrassed giggling in these more feminist times.

“But Kate smiled gracefully, perhaps aware that it would be Brigitte’s turn next as Charles opted to lift the back of her hand right up to his lips to maintain eye contact as he planted his own lips.”

Kate was carrying out the royal duties today after opening up about her ‘rollercoaster’ cancer recovery, its life-changing impact and putting on a “brave face” last week.

She channelled diplomatic royal dressing choosing to wear French fashion house Christian Dior for the celebratory occasion. Her earrings belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales and the pearl necklace was from the late Queen’s collection.

The Christian Dior jacket is the 30 Montaigne Rose Des Vents Bar Jacket and a piece from the 2024 collection. It was reimagined by Maria Grazia Chiuri, who was inspired by the original first created in 1947 by Dior himself. Kate’s hat was by Jess Collett.

Article continues below

‘Kate Middleton’s response to difficult Macron gesture after wife’s snub speaks volumes’

The Princess of Wales was greeted by French President Emmanuel Macron with an unusual air kiss for the hand – and a body language expert has revealed what Kate’s reaction tells us

The Princess of Wales was greeted by French President Emmanuel Macron with an unusual air kiss for the hand – and an expert has revealed Kate’s reaction to it.

Both Kate and William were at RAF Northolt this morning to greet Macron and his wife Brigitte as they arrived in the UK for a state visit. As the couple emerged from their jet, the French leader offered his hand to his wife as she descended the stairs, but she declined his assistance. The president then warmly shook William’s hand and held onto his arm as they chatted. Mr Macron then took the princess’s hand and delivered a gallant air kiss towards it.

President Macron with the Princess of Wales
President Macron with the Princess of Wales (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Macron’s snub from his wife comes weeks after Brigitte appeared to slap him in the face during a heated argument on an official tour in Vietnam.

And despite Mrs Macron appearing to refuse her husband’s hand, body language expert Judi James says the French leader’s charm offensive could not be thwarted.

She told the Mirror : “Anyone expecting a repeat of the infamous ‘Shove de visage’ gesture from Brigitte to her husband as they stood at the entrance to their plane here would have been thwarted as this time Macron bounced out alone and Brigitte appeared a few seconds later to descend by herself.

“Would there be a display of performed coupledom from the pair then, who did seem to want to erase the push from our consciousness via some tender-looking arm-holding and affectionate glances during their actual visit to Vietnam?

Prince William greets Macron
Prince William greets Macron(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

“The suggestion here was a big fat ‘Non’. Despite holding his hand out to his wife like a showman presenting the lead star on stage, Brigitte appeared to ignore the offer, even turning quickly to greet her hosts rather than taking his hand in an affectionate clasp once both her feet were on the tarmac.

“But Macron’s charm offensive would not be thwarted. After a micro truncated ritual that hinted he might just have been going for a cheek-kiss to William, he settled for a handshake that he peppered with add-on hand grasps and clasps to suggest familiarity and friendship.”

And when it came to Kate, Judi revealed how the princess appeared to take his kissing gesture.

Brigitte Macron refused her husband's hand
Brigitte Macron refused her husband’s hand

She added: “When his display of gallantry became distilled into a quaintly antique air hand-kiss that he seemed to have fashioned out of her offered shake. This is a difficult ritual for the modern woman to respond to as it tends to prompt an embarrassed giggling in these more feminist times.

“But Kate smiled gracefully, perhaps aware that it would be Brigitte’s turn next as Charles opted to lift the back of her hand right up to his lips to maintain eye contact as he planted his own lips.”

Kate was carrying out the royal duties today after opening up about her ‘rollercoaster’ cancer recovery, its life-changing impact and putting on a “brave face” last week.

She channelled diplomatic royal dressing choosing to wear French fashion house Christian Dior for the celebratory occasion. Her earrings belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales and the pearl necklace was from the late Queen’s collection.

The Christian Dior jacket is the 30 Montaigne Rose Des Vents Bar Jacket and a piece from the 2024 collection. It was reimagined by Maria Grazia Chiuri, who was inspired by the original first created in 1947 by Dior himself. Kate’s hat was by Jess Collett.

Article continues below

Suspension: Senate Should Be ‘Worshipping’ Senator Natasha As Its ‘Star Girl’ — Ex-Presidential Aspirant

Former Action Democratic Party (ADP) candidate Mathias Tsado has criticized the Senate for treating Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling her the institution’s “star girl,” who deserves to be celebrated, not suspended.

Tsado berated the Senate’s decision to reinstate the Kogi Central lawmaker despite a Federal High Court order overturning her suspension while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday.

According to a poll conducted by the API (Africa Polling Institute), 82 percent of Nigerians don’t trust the country’s Senate. They are now attacking their star girl, who is supposed to be their number nine striker.

Senator Natasha continues to influence the lives of the people despite all of this. Many young people have benefited from her as a source of inspiration. The Senate ought to have commended her by saying, “You are our star girl,” Tsado said.

They “Have No Right To Admit Her,” they claim.

The Senate acknowledged the verdict, but it still needs to obtain the CTC to make a decision.

Tsado claimed that the Senate, in spite of the court’s ruling, had no legal standing to postpone her return.

It’s unfortunate that we’ve restricted our role as a nation to these kinds of considerations. We immediately became aware of Natasha’s mishandling by the Senate. It is inspiring for a woman to fight her way into the Senate against all odds.

“But the Senate insists that it must submit the CTC’s report. They don’t have the first right to admit her. Sadly, Nigeria’s judgments, which are supposed to be concise and unambiguous, are subject to selective enforcement.

Would they be awaiting the CTC if the judge had ordered Senator Natasha to be imprisoned? Did they wait until the CTC before talking about it when she was found guilty of contempt and ordered to pay $5 million? “he said.

Tsado urged the lawmakers to take a decisive decision despite claiming that the real issue is that the Senate abused its authority.

They imposed a suspension for more than 14 days as per their rule book. That is prohibited. Who punishes the Senate for overreaching their constitutional restrictions if Natasha is facing a court-imposed penalty for contempt?

“She said she would wait for the documents before resuming,” I heard her say yesterday. However, I want to urge the Nigerian Senate to “man up and leave this theater alone.” Nigerians do not want these things to happen, he claimed.

Senate’s Response to a Court Decision

On May 13, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

On July 4, 2025, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja annulled Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension, calling it excessive and constitutional.

The judge criticized the Senate’s standing rules and the Legislative Houses’ Powers and Privileges Act as being overreaching and claimed that the punishment denied her constituents representation.

The Senate has since stated that it won’t take action until it receives the judgment’s Certified True Copy.

No party can impose any perceived order or relief, according to Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, adding that no one has been officially served the enrolled order of the judgment.

Our legal representatives, who were present at the hearing, have confirmed that the entire decision was not read in court. In response, we have formally requested the CTC to facilitate a thorough examination and informed choice of legal response.

The Senate shall refrain from acting on the advice of its attorneys and, in the event of receipt and examination of the CTC, refrain from acting in any way that might adversely affect its legal position. The Senate is still committed to upholding international law.

Suspension, and Allegations

Senators Godswill Akpabio and Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (L) and Senate President Godswill Akpabio in a photo montage

Following a row over seat allocation during the plenary, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6, 2025.

He disputed her accusations of sexual harassment and abuse of office, which she had brought against him.

The Senate disciplinary committee found her petition to be ineffective on procedural grounds, but she resubmitted it the following day. The Senate then suspended her for six months and barred her from plenary sessions.

That caused protests in some areas of the nation. Akpoti-Uduaghan filed the lawsuit with the court, and the international organization referred to the suspension as unlawful. In Abuja, she is currently facing defamation and cybercrime charges.

Justice Nyako argued, however, that while the Senate has the authority to impose sanctions, such measures must not violate the constitutional rights of the people to be represented.