US envoys head for new peace talks with Iran in possible breakthrough — BBC News

[0:00] the relationship between the UK and the United States is under further strain tonight after an [0:05] internal Pentagon email suggested the US could review its position on Britain's claim to the [0:11] Falkland Islands. It's one of a number of options reportedly being considered as retaliation against [0:16] allies who Washington believes haven't supported the war against Iran. Downing Street has insisted [0:22] the sovereignty of the Falklands isn't in question. Meanwhile, the White House has announced [0:27] that President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner will travel to [0:33] Pakistan tomorrow for talks with Iran. Here's our world news correspondent Joe Inwood. [0:40] The fact the war in Iran is now lapping at the shores of this remote archipelago shows just how [0:45] far its consequences have spread. The Falkland Islands, British territory in the southern Atlantic [0:51] Ocean. In 1982, Argentinian forces tried to capture them but were eventually defeated at the cost of [1:01] 255 British servicemen, three islanders and 649 Argentinian personnel. Now, these islands are at [1:10] the centre of a diplomatic row within the Western Alliance after a leaked Pentagon memo suggested that [1:16] the US could support Argentina's claims on them as punishment for the UK not joining the war on Iran. [1:22] Europe and Asia have benefited from our protection for decades, but the time for free riding is over. [1:30] America and the free world deserve allies who are capable, who are loyal and who understand that [1:38] being an ally is not a one-way street. It's not only the UK that the self-styled secretary of war [1:44] was taking aim at. The leaked memo also suggested that Spain, a fierce critic of the attack on Iran, [1:51] could be kicked out of NATO. Well, we don't base our work on emails. We base it on official documents [1:59] and the stance taken in this case by the US government. The Spanish government's position [2:04] is clear. Full cooperation with our allies, but always within the framework of international law. [2:10] The British government was equally dismissive of the suggestion in the memo, saying in a statement, [2:15] the Falkland Islanders have voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory, [2:21] and we've always stood behind their right to self-determination and the fact that sovereignty rests with the UK. [2:27] In truth, this is not a story about the Falkland Islands, but about the continued diplomatic consequences [2:35] of the US decision to start a war in Iran without consulting its allies, and then blame them for not joining in. [2:41] Bringing it to an end is now the main focus in Washington, and tonight it's been announced that more peace talks will take place. [2:49] We hope progress will be made, and we hope that positive developments will come from this meeting, [2:54] and we will see. And the president, the vice president, the secretary of state will be waiting here in the United States [3:01] for updates, and the vice president, I understand, is on standby and will be willing to dispatch to Pakistan [3:06] if we feel it's a necessary use of his time. [3:09] Tonight, as the Iranian delegation arrives in Islamabad, there is at least the possibility of progress towards peace, [3:16] however remote. But it's not just old enemies with whom diplomacy will be required. [3:22] Joe Inwood, BBC News. [3:24] Well, let's get the latest from Gary O'Donoghue, who's in Washington. [3:29] What more are we hearing, Gary, about those talks in Pakistan? [3:33] Well, I think they're approaching these talks with a good deal of caution here in Washington. [3:42] They are sending Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as we know, but they are not at this stage sending the vice president, [3:49] J.D. Vance, as they did two weeks ago, when that first round of talks ended in complete failure. [3:54] Now, the planes were on the tarmac earlier this week, ready to go. [3:58] They were put back in the hangar because there wasn't perceived to be any progress. [4:02] And the president gave Iran a pause, a pause, an indefinite cease-fire extension to come up with what he said was a unified proposal. [4:11] Now, we don't know whether there is such a unified proposal at this stage. [4:15] We know that things have got worse in terms of the Strait of Hormuz. [4:18] And they're still at loggerheads over things like Iran's nuclear capabilities and their proxies in the region. [4:24] But, Jane, as someone once said, jaw-jaw is better than war-war. [4:28] And there's certainly a focus here, a way out of this conflict for both the president and the country. [4:39] Gary, thanks very much. Gary O'Donoghue in Washington, D.C. [4:42] Apologies, we lost some of the sound there too, Gary. [4:45] Israel has launched more attacks on southern Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah militants of firing rockets in order to sabotage a cease-fire that's been extended for three weeks. [4:55] Since March, the Lebanese Health Authority says more than 2,000 people have been killed in Israeli strikes. [5:01] And according to the UN, more than a million have had to leave their homes. [5:05] Our Middle East correspondent, Hugo Meshaga, reports from southern Lebanon. [5:09] She fled her village in fear. [5:15] Beirut, thinking she would be safe. [5:19] But an Israeli airstrike there killed her earlier this month. [5:23] Zahra was 26. [5:28] Her body was only brought back home and buried two days ago. [5:33] Ali, her brother, came to play verses of the Koran for her. [5:37] Very sad. [5:41] The hardest thing in life is losing someone from your family. [5:44] That's the hardest thing. [5:47] There is now a cease-fire, but just moments ago we could hear a drone flying overhead. [5:52] The war never ends with Israel. [5:55] There was a cease-fire agreement. [5:58] But listen, you can hear the drones. [6:01] And if you stay long enough, you can still hear airstrikes. [6:05] There's not really a cease-fire. [6:07] Lebanon has been devastated by the war and seems unable to stop it. [6:13] Israel has continued with its airstrikes, saying it is targeting Hezbollah, which for decades has fired rockets into Israel. [6:21] And now Hezbollah is attacking again. [6:24] This village is ten minutes from what the Israeli military calls the Yellow Line. [6:34] And it isn't safe for us to get any closer. [6:37] But that is the part of Lebanon that is now occupied by Israeli troops. [6:43] And we still don't know when or if they're going to pull out. [6:48] Homes and hopes lying in ruins here. [6:52] Najah takes us to her house, damaged in the last war and damaged again by this one. [6:59] We don't have nerves anymore. [7:05] I can't take it anymore. [7:07] What should we do? [7:08] Where should we go? [7:10] We don't want war anymore. [7:20] That's enough. [7:21] We are exhausted. [7:22] The cease-fire has been extended. [7:27] But lasting peace remains elusive. [7:30] This is a land that has seen many rebirths because of wars. [7:35] And once more, its people are being forced to start again. [7:39] Hugo Bashega, BBC News, Southern Lebanon.