Washington, April 16 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has said that Israel-Lebanon talks will take place on Thursday. “Trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon. It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.Israel and Lebanon on Tuesday held a meeting in Washington, where Israel insisted on Hezbollah’s disarmament, and Lebanon called for a ceasefire and concrete measures to ease the severe h…
Latest US State Department News & Updates
Washington, April 12 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has terminated the lawful permanent resident status of three Iranian nationals with alleged ties to figures associated with Iran’s revolutionary regime, leading to their arrest and detention pending removal, the State Department said.Seyed Eissa Hashemi, Maryam Tahmasebi, and their son were taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement after their legal status was revoked. Authorities said they are now awaiting deport…
Washington, April 2 (IANS) The US State Department has announced major reforms to how it selects and trains its diplomats. The changes aim to prepare the Foreign Service for the challenges of the 21st century. The overhaul affects both recruitment and training. It puts more weight on core skills and policy knowledge.Applicants will now be tested on American history, foreign policy concepts, and logical reasoning. The department said it has removed questions “intended to test alignment with ide…
Paris, March 27 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar had a “useful talk’ with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Affairs Ministerial in France’s Cernay-la-Ville, on Friday. “Useful talk this morning with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio,” EAM Jaishankar wrote on X late Friday afternoon.According to the US State Department, Rubio is scheduled to meet foreign ministers from partner nations to discuss shared security concerns and opportunities for c…
New Delhi, March 24 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, reiterating India’s support for immediate de-escalation and restoration of peace amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. During the call, PM Modi emphasised that keeping the strategic Strait of Hormuz open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world. Both leaders also agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts towards peace and stability.”Received a call from President Trump and had a u…
New Delhi, March 24 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump spoke over phone on Tuesday, discussing the ongoing situation in West Asia and the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. “President Donald Trump just spoke with Prime Minister Modi. They discussed the ongoing situation in the Middle East, including the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open,” US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor wrote on X.The conversation between both leaders comes amid the o…
Washington, March 23 (IANS) The US government has opposed an attempt by well-known American policy expert Ashley J. Tellis to get serious charges against him dismissed, saying he wrongly kept highly sensitive national security documents at his home for years.Tellis is widely regarded as one of the foremost experts on India and South Asia in the United States, with a long career in government and strategic policy circles.According to government filings, Tellis — who worked with the US State Dep…
Washington, March 9 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on Monday, accused Iran’s leadership of trying to “hold the world hostage”, saying American forces were carrying out a military operation aimed at dismantling the regime’s missile capabilities and weakening what he described as the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism.”They are trying to hold the world hostage,” Rubio said during remarks at the State Department marking the US Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag Raising Ceremony.”They a…
Washington, March 8 (IANS) The US military has issued a warning on Sunday to civilians in Iran, urging them to stay indoors as Iranian forces continue launching drones and ballistic missiles from densely populated cities — a tactic American officials say is placing millions of ordinary people at risk.US Central Command said the Iranian military had been conducting operations from crowded urban areas, including the cities of Dezful, Esfahan, and Shiraz, where drones and missiles have been launch…
Washington, March 7 (IANS) The US State Department said that it has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel of munitions and related support services, including 12,000 aerial bombs.The deal is worth about 151.8 million US dollars, the department said in a statement.Israel has requested to purchase 12,000 BLU-110A/B general purpose, 1,000-pound bomb bodies, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting the US State Department statement. “The Secretary of State (Marco Rubio) has determined and p…