UAE + Denmark to cooperate on sustainable agriculture: Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan signed a MoU with Denmark’s Foreign Affairs Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen to cooperate on sustainable agriculture and food, state news agency Wam reports. The ministers also discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in health, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and other key sectors.
Trump urges nuclear talks with Iran via UAE diplomat: UAE Presidential Diplomatic Advisor Anwar Gargash delivered a letter from US President Donald Trump to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, urging Tehran to enter negotiations around its nuclear program, Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed, following earlier denials of receiving such a letter, Reuters and AP report. Trump also warned of possible military consequences if an agreement isn’t reached. Gargash personally delivered the letter during an unannounced visit to Tehran.
Khamenei’s response: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei dismissed the letter as an attempt to “deceive global public opinion.” On Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized Trump’s threats of military action, saying Tehran would not be forced into negotiations, Iran International reports.
Background: Trump’s outreach comes as Iran enriches uranium to 60%, near weapons-grade levels and as Iran and European powers like France, the UK, and Germany gear up for a fifth round of nuclear talks. Trump had withdrawn the US from the nuclear pact in 2018 and reinstated sanctions on Iran, and Iran has since been ramping up nuclear production, which it repeatedly said is developed for peaceful purposes.