IRAN: President Pezeshkian again pledged today that his nation is “not after a nuclear bomb” ahead of talks between Tehran and the United States, while dangling the prospect of direct US investment in the Islamic Republic if the countries can reach a deal.

“His excellency has no opposition to investment by American investors in Iran,” Mr Pezeshkian said in a speech in Tehran, referring to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “American investors: Come and invest.”

EUROPEAN UNION: Member states voted today to approve retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion (£18bn) of goods in response to US President Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on imported steel and aluminium.