Iran food inflation hits 130% amid policy criticism, MP says

US Senator Bill Cassidy said Special Envoy Steve Witkoff helped arrange a classified briefing on Iran after a heated exchange over congressional access to information, following his vote on a war powers resolution.

Speaking to CBS’s Face the Nation, Cassidy said he passed a note to Witkoff requesting a briefing, after which he was invited to follow up within an hour, adding his earlier vote on the resolution was driven by frustration over a lack of briefings on Iran diplomacy and military developments.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Thursday that Italy has not taken part in any military action against Iran and has not authorized the use of its bases for such operations, in comments following a call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

"Italy has never taken part in any military initiative and has never authorized the use of bases for war actions against Iran, in the strictest respect of the treaties with the United States. I requested a return to full opening of the Strait of Hormuz, facilitating the passage of all Italian cargo ships still blocked. The reopening of the Italian embassy in Tehran is a strong signal of dialogue, also in view of the resumption of economic and cultural relations," he posed on X.

The Persian Gulf Seaway Authority (PGSA) said on Thursday that vessels transiting outside designated shipping routes in the Gulf would not be covered by its Safe Passage Guarantee, insurance, or related liability protections.

"Any consequences arising from unauthorized routing would be the sole responsibility of the vessel owner, charterer and master," The authority said on X.

Hardline Iranian lawmaker Mahmoud Nabavian on Thursday questioned why government officials scheduled another round of negotiations with the United States, adding that several conditions Tehran had previously set for continuing the talks not yet been fulfilled.

"To the officials leading the negotiations: Didn't you say that implementing provisions 1, 4, 5, 10, and 11 of the agreement was a precondition for continuing negotiations, and that talks would be suspended until those provisions were carried out? Those provisions have still not been fully implemented. So why have you scheduled another round of negotiations for next week?" he posted on X.

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa after deadly earthquakes in Venezuela, Carney said diplomatic presence does not amount to political approval.

“Engagement is not endorsement,” he said, adding that embassies and consular services help governments respond faster in emergencies.

Carney said Canada had faced similar challenges during the war in Iran. “We’ve had to rely on allies and countries that also aren’t our natural allies to help us, particularly in Iran, to help get Canadians out."

“In my opinion, we must change the way we’re doing things,” Carney added, while cautioning that he was making a general point and that no decision had been made on restoring ties.

His remarks come despite earlier comments by Canada’s Foreign Ministry to Iran International that Ottawa’s policy toward Tehran had not changed.

The ministry said Canada maintains a Controlled Engagement Policy with Iran, limiting bilateral contacts to consular affairs, including issues related to the downing of Flight PS752, as well as human rights and nuclear non-proliferation.

“While we continually monitor opportunities in which diplomatic representation may be in the interests of Canadians, and noting that engagement is not endorsement, we are not currently considering re-opening an embassy in Iran,” the ministry told Iran International.

Canada closed its embassy in Tehran in 2012 and expelled Iranian diplomats from Ottawa after designating the Islamic Republic a state sponsor of terrorism. The absence of diplomatic ties has complicated consular support for Canadians in Iran, including members of Canada’s large Iranian diaspora.

Ottawa has since maintained what it calls a Controlled Engagement Policy with Tehran, limiting bilateral contacts to consular issues, the 2020 downing of Flight PS752, human rights and nuclear non-proliferation.

The absence of Iranian diplomatic representation in Canada has in turn forced more than 280,000 members of the country’s Iranian diaspora to handle consular affairs through the Islamic Republic’s Interests Section in Washington, DC.