Iran nuclear deal
Iran’s foreign minister says European rebuke of his country’s nuclear policies is aimed at appeasing the QUOTE terrorist Israeli regime with illicit nukes. In a tweet, Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran’s responsible conduct is the only reason the 2015 nuclear deal is still alive. He warned the E3, the EU and the US against coordinating with Israel as the arch-enemy of the deal. Zarif said they should instead act responsibly and comply with a UN Security Council resolution endorsing the pact. In a press conference with his Israeli counterpart, French President Emmanuel Macron called on Iran to act responsibly and cease the rollback of its commitments under the deal.
China-US talks
The United States says it had candid exchanges with China in their first face-to-face talks under US President Joe Biden’s administration. Antony Blinken said the interests of Washington and Beijing intersect on Iran, North Korea and Afghanistan. Blinken was speaking at the end of two-day talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi in Alaska. Wang for his part called for a policy of no conflict by both sides. He noted that sovereignty is a matter of principle for Beijing, and that Washington should not underestimate China's determination to defend its sovereignty. That was a reference to tensions with Washington over Taiwan and Hong Kong, after the two sides traded barbs over the issues at the beginning of their meeting.
Brazil coronavirus crisis
Brazil reports over 2,800 covid-19 fatalities in 24 hours, the second deadliest daily toll in the country since the pandemic began a year ago. According to official data, the latest death toll brings the country's total coronavirus mortalities to more than 290,000. The South American nation also registered 90,570 daily infections, its largest daily caseload so far. Brazil has the second-highest number of coronavirus deaths and infections after the United States. Brazil’s healthcare system has been plunged into the worst crisis in its history as a result of the covid-19 outbreak. Medics describe the situation as terrifying and well beyond chaos.