Iran's supreme leader forbids sending enriched uranium stockpile abroad
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a directive stressing that the country's stockpile of enriched uranium must not be transferred abroad, Reuters cited two senior Iranian sources as saying on Thursday.
It added that one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, "The supreme leader's directive, and the consensus within the establishment, is that the stockpile of enriched uranium should not leave the country."
The sources noted that Iran's top officials believe that sending the material abroad would leave the country more vulnerable to future attacks by the United States and Israel.
They added there is "deep suspicion" in Iran that the pause in hostilities is a "tactical deception" by the United States to "create a sense of security" before renewing attacks.
Trump says Iran cannot possess enriched uranium
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested that U.S. control of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile would be part of any potential peace deal with Iran to guarantee that Iran cannot get a nuclear weapon.
"We'll probably destroy it after we get it, but we're not going to let them have it," Trump said at the White House.
The U.S. president reiterated that Iran should not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.
"Right now, we're negotiating and we'll see, but either we're going to get it one way or the other. They're not gonna have a nuclear weapon," Trump told reporters. "We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon, that's all it is."
Colombia expels charge d'affaires of Bolivian embassy
Colombia's Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that it has expelled Ariel Percy Molina Pimentel, charge d'affaires of the Bolivian Embassy in Colombia.
It is taken in a reciprocal move after Bolivia asked Colombia's ambassador to leave.
In a statement, the ministry said the decision was taken under Article 9 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, following Bolivia's recent decision regarding the presence of Colombian Ambassador Elizabeth Garcia in that country.
Israel deports all Gaza aid flotilla activists
Israel said on Thursday it had deported all activists from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla after a video showing activists kneeling with their hands bound sparked international outrage.
The aid vessels, carrying 428 people, were intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters on Monday morning.
Israel's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that all the activists had been deported, adding that the country would not permit any breach of what it described as "the lawful naval blockade on Gaza."
The activists had been brought to Israel's Ashdod Port on Wednesday. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir later released a video showing them kneeling on the floor, bent forward with their heads down and their hands bound behind their backs with zip ties, as the Israeli national anthem was played loudly over speakers.
EU forecasts weaker growth, rising inflation
The European Union (EU) economy is expected to grow at a slower pace with higher inflation, and the positive trend in labor markets is set to halt amid the energy shock triggered by the Middle East conflict, the European Commission's spring forecast said on Thursday.
EU's gross domestic product (GDP) growth is projected to slow to 1.1 percent in 2026, a downward revision of 0.3 percentage points from the last year's autumn forecast, before edging up to 1.4 percent in 2027. In the eurozone, growth is forecast at 0.9 percent this year and 1.2 percent next year.
Inflation in the EU is expected to reach 3.1 percent in 2026 -- a full percentage point higher than previously forecast -- before easing to 2.4 percent in 2027. Eurozone inflation is projected at 3.0 percent in 2026 and 2.3 percent in 2027. Although energy-driven inflation may ease in 2027, energy commodity prices are still forecast to stay about 20 percent above pre-war levels. ■
