IRAN

Tehran rejects talks with US under threat

Iran on Wednesday rejected any prospects of talks with the United States as long as it continues to threaten military action, after the US administration escalated its rhetoric and announced the deployment of additional naval forces to the Middle East. "There can be no negotiations in an atmosphere of threats," Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. "If they want negotiations, they must abandon threats, excessive demands and illogical issues." In a post on X, Araghchi said Iran welcomes a new deal on its nuclear program but would respond forcefully to any US military operation.

COLOMBIA

Lawmaker among 15 killed in plane crash

A plane crash in northeastern Colombia on Wednesday killed all 15 people on board, including a local lawmaker, state-run airline Satena said. The Beechcraft 1900 twin-engined turboprop aircraft took off before noon from Cucuta, on the border with Venezuela, for a short flight to the town of Ocana, Satena said. Air traffic control lost contact with the plane 12 minutes into the flight, the carrier added. Satena did not say what caused the crash and said the plane's emergency beacon had not been activated. Lawmaker Diogenes Quintero and members of his team were aboard the plane, according to a passenger list released by the airline.