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Iran nuclear deal

Iran’s foreign minister says his country is ready to resume talks on the 2015 nuclear deal but is doubtful about the seriousness of the United States to return to the accord. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the comment while meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Amir-Abdollahian noted that the US has not taken a serious and practical step to resume compliance with the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. He said Tehran is rapidly reviewing the minutes of the talks held in Vienna with JCPOA parties since April in order to restart negotiations. The top diplomat stressed that Iran wants to see tangible results from any talks aimed at reviving the pact that Washington unilaterally left three years ago. Le Drianin, for his part, said Paris is worried about delays in continuation of the Vienna talks and wants them to resume as soon as possible.

Indo-Pacific bloc

US President Joe Biden has intensified his efforts to make pacts with Asia-Pacific countries in the face of a rising China. Biden sat down with the leaders of Australia, India and Japan in the first in-person summit at the White House where they agreed on a stable and democratic Indo-Pacific. The leaders of the Quad group discussed regional challenges in a veiled dig at rival China although it was not mentioned. They called the group a practical initiative to confront pressures and challenges. US officials later stressed that the group is not a military alliance. China was quick to react, saying the bloc is doomed to fail. The Quad meeting marked another US step to reviving its focus on diplomatic efforts after its recent controversial security pact with Australia. That move was also immediately denounced by China and France.

Pakistan-India row

India and Pakistan have traded jabs at the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, accusing each other of harboring extremists. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan accused his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi of 'a reign of terror on Muslims and planning to purge India of them'. Khan said, the worst form of Islamophobia now rules India. The comments came as India has witnessed a number of anti-Muslim riots perpetrated by the ruling party-allied extremist Hindu outfits. Modi has also rescinded the statehood of the disputed Muslim majority region of Kashmir and pushed through a citizenship law that critics call discriminatory against Muslims. Meanwhile, the first secretary at India's UN mission accused Pakistan of sheltering al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden, who was killed back in 2011. She also accused Pakistan of nurturing terrorists.

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