EU and Pakistan advocate for diplomatic de-escalation between US and Iran
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held bilateral talks in Manila to emphasize the necessity of sustained diplomacy to mitigate US-Iran tensions. The meeting highlights a coordinated effort by non-belligerent regional and international actors to prevent further escalation, though the practical impact on US or Iranian policy remains uncertain.
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US Imposes New Tariffs; Escalation in Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz
The US has implemented new tariffs (10-12.5%) on 60 trading partners, including South Korea and Japan, signaling a protectionist shift. Concurrently, maritime and regional tensions are escalating with Houthi forces claiming a lethal attack and blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and multiple reports of explosions on Iran's Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz, attributed by Iranian state media to unconfirmed US missile strikes. Iran also reports 55 fatalities from US strikes since June 27, while denying involvement in an alleged attack on a Kuwaiti power station.