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Trump hints at deadline for Iran to come to nuclear talks
- Trump says Iran wants deal as US forces move closer.
- Iran says defence programme is non-negotiable.
- US military build-up in ME adds to regional tensions.
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump predicted on Friday that Iran would seek to negotiate a deal rather than face American military action, despite Tehran warning that its arsenal of missiles would never be up for discussion.
“I can say this, they do want to make a deal,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Asked if he had given Iran a deadline to enter talks on its nuclear and missile programmes, Trump said “yeah, I have,” but refused to say what it was.
“We have a large armada, flotilla, call it whatever you want, heading towards Iran right now,” Trump said, referring to a US naval carrier group in waters off Iran.
“Hopefully we’ll make a deal. If we do make a deal, that’s good. If we don’t make a deal, we’ll see what happens.”
Trump cited what he said was Iran’s decision to halt the executions of protesters – after a crackdown in which rights groups say more than 6,000 people were killed – as evidence to show Tehran was ready to negotiate.
Doing the right thing
Washington’s allies in the region are concerned that any US strike on Iran could cause instability and economic chaos.
One senior Gulf official in touch with the Trump administration said that the United States was closely guarded on what it has planned.
“We hope that whatever happens, it is going to lead to stability. That outcome could be reached by the Iranians doing the right thing, and we hope that happens,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, the head of Iran’s top security body – secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani – met Tehran’s ally Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
No details of their talks emerged, but Moscow has offered to mediate between Washington and Tehran.
Iran’s top diplomat said Friday that his country’s missile and defence capabilities would “never” be on the negotiating table.
Meantime, in a post on US social media company X, Larijani said the EU “certainly knows” that under a resolution adopted by Iran’s parliament, the armed forces of countries that took part in the recent EU move against the IRGC would themselves be considered terrorist organizations.
“The European Union certainly knows that, in accordance with a resolution of the Iranian parliament, the armies of countries that participated in the recent EU decision against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will be considered terrorist,” Larijani said.
He added that “the consequences of such an action will therefore fall on the European countries that took this step.”
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was “ready to begin negotiations if they take place on an equal footing.”
But, he emphasised, “Iran’s defensive and missile capabilities will never be subject to negotiation,” adding there were no plans to meet with US officials on resuming talks.
Ex-IAEA chief slams US threats
Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei has condemned escalating US threats of military action against Iran.
In his post on Thursday on X, ElBaradei drew a direct parallel to the lead-up to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, which he described as “illegal and immoral” and built on falsehoods with devastating human and regional consequences.
“The continued unilateral threats of a military strike against #Iran in the absence of any clear and present danger and in violation of international law, brings to mind the same grim scene before the illegal and immoral #Iraq war with its lies and horrifying consequences. Human life and regional destruction don’t seem to matter. We never learn…,” he tweeted.
US news site Axios reported this week that Washington officials say any deal would have to include a cap on Iran’s arsenal of long-range missiles, the removal of enriched uranium from the country and a ban on independent enrichment.
Serhan Afacan, director of IRAM, the Ankara-based Centre for Iranian Studies, told AFP that trying to link a nuclear deal with other issues would likely “be impossible.”
“For now, the ballistic missile programme remains a red line, as it sits at the core of Iran’s defence architecture,” he said.
Reducing tensions
Iran has warned that it would respond instantly with missile strikes against US bases, ships and allies, notably Israel.
“We are not limiting the geography of confrontation to the sea alone and have prepared ourselves for broader and more advanced scenarios,” the head of Iran’s Defence Council, Ali Shamkhani, said Friday, according to the Tasnim news agency.
Speaking at a joint news conference in Istanbul with Araghchi, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Israel was pushing for the United States to attack Iran, and urged Washington to “not allow this to happen.”
Iran has blamed the United States and Israel for the protests that erupted in late December over economic grievances and peaked on January 8 and 9, accusing the two countries of fuelling a “terrorist operation” that turned peaceful demonstrations into “riots.”
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board on Sunday announced a revised schedule for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after deciding to hold the tournament without spectators under the government’s austerity measures.
In a significant restructuring, the number of host cities has been reduced from six to two, with all matches now set to be played exclusively in Lahore and Karachi. The decision aligns with officially announced national resource conservation efforts.
According to the updated itinerary, the tournament will comprise 44 matches played over 39 days, with each city hosting 22 fixtures. The opening match between the Hyderabad Kingsmen and Lahore Qalandars remains unchanged.
Lahore will host Eliminators 1 and 2, as well as the final, while the Qualifier will take place in Karachi.
As the tournament temporarily adopts a watch-from-home model, organisers have confirmed the introduction of enhanced broadcast and production features designed to deliver a superior viewing experience for fans in Pakistan and around the world.
League officials expressed confidence that audience passion, combined with innovative coverage, would make this one of the most widely watched editions to date.
Addressing the absence of in-person spectators, a statement acknowledged that crowds at stadiums would be sorely missed.
It was estimated that an average of 30,000 spectators and associated support staff travelling daily for over a month would place considerable strain on energy resources.
By limiting the tournament to two cities, the league said it would also significantly reduce the extensive operational arrangements, transport logistics, and utility overheads associated with a six-city event.
Organisers reaffirmed their commitment to delivering high-quality cricket while aligning with national priorities, stating that the league would proceed with the unity, discipline, and excellence that have established it as a defining symbol of Pakistan’s sporting strength.
Revised PSL 11 schedule:
- Mar 26 – Match 1: Lahore Qalandars vs Hyderabad Kingsmen (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- Mar 27 – Match 2: Quetta Gladiators vs Karachi Kings (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- Mar 28 – Match 3: Peshawar Zalmi vs Rawalpindiz (Lahore, 2:30 PM)
- Mar 28 – Match 4: Multan Sultans vs Islamabad United (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- Mar 29 – Match 5: Quetta Gladiators vs Hyderabad Kingsmen (Lahore, 2:30 PM)
- Mar 29 – Match 6: Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- Mar 31 – Match 7: Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 1 – Match 8: Multan Sultans vs Hyderabad Kingsmen (7:00 PM)
- Apr 2 – Match 9: Quetta Gladiators vs Islamabad United (2:30 PM)
- Apr 2 – Match 10: Rawalpindiz vs Karachi Kings (7:00 PM)
- Apr 3 – Match 11: Lahore Qalandars vs Multan Sultans (7:00 PM)
- Apr 4 – Match 12: Rawalpindiz vs Islamabad United (7:00 PM)
- Apr 5 – Match 13: Quetta Gladiators vs Multan Sultans (7:00 PM)
- Apr 6 – Match 14: Multan Sultans vs Rawalpindiz (7:00 PM)
- Apr 8 – Match 15: Hyderabad Kingsmen vs Peshawar Zalmi (Karachi, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 9 – Match 16: Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United (2:30 PM)
- Apr 9 – Match 17: Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi (7:00 PM)
- Apr 10 – Match 18: Quetta Gladiators vs Rawalpindiz (7:00 PM)
- Apr 11 – Match 19: Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars (2:30 PM)
- Apr 11 – Match 20: Karachi Kings vs Hyderabad Kingsmen (7:00 PM)
- Apr 12 – Match 21: Hyderabad Kingsmen vs Islamabad United (7:00 PM)
- Apr 13 – Match 22: Peshawar Zalmi vs Multan Sultans (7:00 PM)
- Apr 15 – Match 23: Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators (7:00 PM)
- Apr 16 – Match 24: Hyderabad Kingsmen vs Rawalpindiz (2:30 PM)
- Apr 16 – Match 25: Karachi Kings vs Islamabad United (7:00 PM)
- Apr 17 – Match 26: Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators (7:00 PM)
- Apr 18 – Match 27: Lahore Qalandars vs Rawalpindiz (7:00 PM)
- Apr 19 – Match 28: Karachi Kings vs Multan Sultans (2:30 PM)
- Apr 19 – Match 29: Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators (7:00 PM)
- Apr 21 – Match 30: Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators (Lahore, 2:30 PM)
- Apr 21 – Match 31: Rawalpindiz vs Multan Sultans (Karachi, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 22 – Match 32: Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi (Lahore, 2:30 PM)
- Apr 22 – Match 33: Hyderabad Kingsmen vs Multan Sultans (Karachi, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 23 – Match 34: Rawalpindiz vs Islamabad United (Karachi, 2:30 PM)
- Apr 23 – Match 35: Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 24 – Match 36: Hyderabad Kingsmen vs Islamabad United (Karachi, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 25 – Match 37: Quetta Gladiators vs Karachi Kings (Lahore, 2:30 PM)
- Apr 25 – Match 38: Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 26 – Match 39: Hyderabad Kingsmen vs Rawalpindiz (Karachi, 2:30 PM)
- Apr 26 – Match 40: Islamabad United vs Multan Sultans (Karachi, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 28 – Qualifier (Karachi, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 29 – Eliminator 1 (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- May 1 – Eliminator 2 (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- May 3 – Final (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
Chappell Roan is being heavily criticised on social media after a security incident with a young fan in Brazil, who was the daughter of footballer Jorginho, and the mayor of Rio de Janeiro himself has taken action.
The 27-year-old pop superstar reportedly sent a security guard to the young girl who smiled at her in a hotel, and he yelled at the mother and her child until the young fan was reduced to tears.
Although the Good Luck, Babe! hitmaker later defended herself on social media, claiming that she was not aware of the altercation, and neither did she send the guard over, she is now banned from Brazil’s Todo Mundo No Rio music festival.
The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Cavaliere, took to X and wrote in Portuguese, “I mean that as long as I’m in charge of our city – this young lady will never perform at Todo Mundo no Rio!”
The music festival is scheduled for later this year, and is described as the biggest dance floor in the world, but Roan would not be performing there.
The latest public incident follows Roan’s recent altercation with paparazzi in Paris, which also became a topic for heated debate earlier this month.
Dividing fans, and critics, the singer drew equal criticism and applaud for drawing clear boundaries with fans.
However, the incident with Jorginho’s daughter disappointed fans all the same and they urged Roan to take accountability.
Taylor Swift will be attending her first award show of 2026 on Thursday, March 26, and Swifties believe there is a special reason behind her appearance.
The 36-year-old pop star will attend the iHeartRadio award show where she is the most-nominated star.
While many fans believe that the Eras Tour performer might make her red carpet debut with her husband-to-be Travis Kelce, many are also speculating a music-related announcement in the show.
A fanpage on X shared the news that well-placed sources have teased that Swift will be making a special announcement at the award ceremony.
Soon after the post went viral, social media sleuths flocked to the comments reacting to the news, and making speculations.
“DEBUT TV it’s your time to shine,” some fans echoed, theorising that Swift would be announcing the re-release of her self-titled album which she previously revealed she had re-recorded.
The Grammy winner will also mark the 20th anniversary of her debut album this year as she released it in October, 2006.
Another most-guessed announcement was also the Elizabeth Taylor single release, which has been the talk of the pop world for a while.
Swift has been promoting the song on Spotify as well as on radio, and is believed to have recorded the music video as well.
The rumoured single, or the re-release, Swifties believe an announcement is imminent at the award show, because “Taylor nation said special appearance so.”
Regardless, fans don’t have to wait for long as the music awards are scheduled for Thursday this week.
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