WASHINGTON -- The United States will send close to 200 letters to its trading partners on trade tariffs in the coming days, U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday.
Speaking to reporters before his departure for the United Kingdom, Trump said, "When that letter goes out, that's a deal, and we'll be sending maybe almost 200 of those letters out." (US-Letter-Tariff)
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ISTANBUL -- Diplomats from Iran and the E3, namely France, Britain and Germany, have agreed to continue consultations following a discussion in Istanbul on Friday concerning sanctions relief and the nuclear issue, according to Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi.
The closed-door meeting took place at the Iranian consulate in Istanbul, with Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Gharibabadi leading the Iranian delegation. (Iran-Europe-Nuclear Talks)
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DAMASCUS -- Syria's foreign affairs authorities announced Friday that Damascus has reached a joint agreement with the United States and France aimed at accelerating the political transition process and reinforcing national stability, particularly in the country's northeast and the southern Sweida province.
In a statement carried by state media, the ministry said the agreement includes support for the Syrian interim authorities in its efforts to lead the political transition, with international backing focused on preserving territorial integrity and national unity. (Syria-US-France-Agreement)
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GOMA, DR Congo -- The March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group announced on Friday that the release of over 700 people detained in connection with the conflict is a prerequisite for any further dialogue with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government.
Benjamin Mbonimpa, M23's representative in several rounds of talks with Kinshasa in Doha, made the remarks at a press conference in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, which has been under M23 control since late January. (DRC-M23-Talks) ■
