Wednesday 21 October 2026 07:30 UTC
Iran slows talks as Ukraine offers an energy ceasefire
Senior Iranian officials said Tehran was deliberately slowing negotiations to deny Donald Trump a political win before the November 3 US midterm elections while preparing for renewed attacks. Other sources said Qatar and Pakistan had proposed confidential nuclear inspections and a partial concession involving $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds, with preliminary US and Iranian approval. But Iran’s parliament speaker said Washington must meet seven conditions before talks, while another official ruled out transferring Iran’s enriched nuclear material abroad. Pakistan’s military chief travelled to Tehran to pursue a ceasefire.
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Ukraine said it accepted a US proposal for an energy ceasefire and offered to stop attacking sensitive Russian energy sites if Moscow reciprocated, but Vladimir Putin rejected it. US envoy Steve Witkoff met Volodymyr Zelensky in Norway before travelling to Russia, reversing his usual order. Security guarantees being discussed with Kyiv will be shared with Russia for feedback. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also acknowledged that reports of undelivered missile interceptors bought for Ukraine through a partner-funded programme could be accurate.
The UK will deploy Typhoon fighters to defend Saudi cities and critical infrastructure from Houthi attacks, alongside a transport aircraft and additional military advisers. Britain said the jets would not conduct offensive strikes. Two US naval groups carrying about 10,000 personnel are also expected in the Middle East by the end of November. Their arrival would give the United States three aircraft carriers and two amphibious assault ships in the region. Separately, Marco Rubio said oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz were nearly back to prewar levels.