Houthi leader blames US for ‘impossible demands’ in Iran talks

Hardline Iranian daily Kayhan whose editor is appointed the supreme leader's office claimed that Bahrain belongs to Iran and alleged that its people seek annexation to the country.

“First, Bahrain belongs to Iran, and the people of that land consider themselves Iranian. They speak Persian and seek annexation to their original homeland,” the newspaper wrote.

Kayhan also said Bahrain’s government had filed a complaint against Iran at the United Nations, accusing Tehran of interference in its internal affairs.

“Second, the puppet rulers of Bahrain have placed the soil of this Iranian island at the disposal of the United States and the Zionist regime for a military attack on Iran. Therefore, in addition to being stripped of power, they must also be put on trial and punished,” it added.

Pakistan said a second round of talks between the United States and Iran has not yet been scheduled.

“There are no dates yet,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters on Thursday.

Commenting on the first round of negotiations, Andrabi said there was “certainly not a major breakthrough in terms of any concrete document emanating from these talks, but there was no breakdown as well.”

Germany is in principle ready to help secure transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz after hostilities end, provided there is a mandate—preferably from the United Nations—and approval from the German parliament, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.

“We are still a long way from all of that,” Merz told reporters a day before talks in Paris that he said would also address whether US armed forces could participate in a potential mission.

Iran and the US have shifted focus to a temporary deal to prevent a return to conflict as major disagreements over Tehran’s nuclear programme persist, Iranian sources told Reuters.

The move follows inconclusive talks in Islamabad last weekend, with disputes remaining over the fate of Iran’s highly enriched uranium and how long it should curb nuclear work.

A senior Iranian official said some progress had been made, including on managing the Strait of Hormuz, but core issues remain unresolved.

The sources said Iran is seeking a memorandum that would include the unfreezing of funds in exchange for allowing more ships through the strait.

They added that under proposals discussed, ships could pass through parts of the waterway with reduced risk if a broader deal is reached.

Germany is prepared to support a potential mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz by providing demining and maritime surveillance capabilities, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported on Thursday.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to present the proposal at a meeting in Paris on Friday with counterparts from France, Britain and Italy, the report said.

The initiative comes as European countries explore options to help safeguard shipping in the strategic waterway amid heightened tensions.