INTERNACIONAL
Pakistani general says Iran diplomacy still alive, despite US blockade, failed talks
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The United States began enforcing a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic Monday, sharply escalating tensions in the Gulf just hours after high-level talks in Pakistan between Washington and Tehran collapsed without a deal.
The move, announced by President Donald Trump, came after negotiations in Islamabad ended without a breakthrough, despite what participants described as rare direct engagement between the two sides.
But Lt. Gen. (ret.) Mohammed Saeed, former chief of general staff of the Pakistan Army, said in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital that the talks came far closer to success than their outcome suggests — and argued that diplomacy is still within reach.
«Both sides are saying they were very close … even inches away from a solution,» he said based on his own knowledge and reports. Saeed retired in 2023 but remained part of the core team handling operational planning, internal security coordination, and sensitive periods of political tension.
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«They talked to each other in a very friendly manner. There was, from both sides, an expression of accommodation and understanding from each other. So, what you can briefly say is that the engagement has sufficient potential to resume.»
The United States began enforcing a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic April 13, 2026. (Farooq NAEEM / AFP via Getty Images)
Speaking at the White House Monday, Trump defended the blockade, saying, «Right now, there’s no fighting. Right now, we have a blockade … Iran is doing absolutely no business, and we’re going to keep it that way very easily.»
He added that Iran’s military capabilities had been significantly degraded, saying its «Navy has gone, their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft is gone, their radar is gone and their leaders are gone.»
Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation, pressed Iran to accept a strict «zero enrichment» policy and remove its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
«The simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon,» Vance said at a press conference in Islamabad.
Iranian leaders rejected those demands, insisting that any agreement must include the immediate release of billions of dollars in frozen assets.
Now, with the blockade in place, Saeed suggested the move may be designed less as a military endgame and more as leverage.
«This blockade could be … a maneuver to build further pressure on Iran to negotiate,» he said.
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Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 12, 2026. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
The escalation has raised concerns globally, particularly for countries dependent on Gulf energy flows, including Pakistan.
«Everyone in the world must be worried about what kind of economic negative spin-offs such a blockade would have,» Saeed said.
Saeed, who until recently sat at the center of Pakistan’s military leadership, framed the Islamabad talks as a critical reopening of dialogue after decades of hostility.
«It is the first time in 47 years … that there was engagement at the highest level,» he said, calling it «a great moment for diplomacy» and a demonstration of Pakistan’s ability to maintain credibility with both Washington and Tehran.
He pointed in particular to Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, a figure who has drawn unusual attention in Washington.
Trump has publicly praised Munir, at one point calling him his «favorite field marshal,» elevating his profile as a key intermediary in regional diplomacy.
Munir, who rose through Pakistan’s intelligence ranks before becoming army chief, previously served as director general of military intelligence and later led the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). His career has been defined by deep involvement in regional security and intelligence coordination, including longstanding engagement with Iran.
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Security personnel inspect vehicles entering the Foreign Ministry office in Islamabad on April 9, 2026. (Aamir QURESHI / AFP via Getty Images)
Those ties could prove critical in the current crisis, according to Saeed.
«What people do not know is that when he was director general of military intelligence … he was interacting with Iranians at multiple levels continuously,» Saeed said, describing years of direct engagement with Iran’s military, intelligence and political leadership, including former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. strike during Trump’s first term.
«He has had interaction with them for a long time … visiting Iran frequently and interacting on multiple issues,» Saeed said, adding that many current Iranian officials would already be familiar with Munir from earlier roles.
That continuity, he argued, gives Pakistan a rare advantage at a moment when formal diplomatic channels are strained.
«What one can say is that he continues to be one figure internationally who has a personal interaction … in the intelligence community in Iran in the military hierarchy and also on the side of the political leadership,» Saeed said.
«So that’s a huge advantage he has on the other side.»
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Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were greeted by Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir upon their arrival at Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on April 11, 2026. (Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs/AP)
For Pakistan, that personal access — combined with its simultaneous relationship with Washington — has become central to its effort to position itself as a credible intermediary, even as the region edges closer to confrontation.
At the same time, Pakistan’s role as a mediator has drawn scrutiny, particularly given its longstanding position on Israel and recent inflammatory remarks by senior officials.
When asked whether Pakistan can be seen as a neutral broker while not recognizing Israel — an actor directly involved in strikes on Iran — Saeed downplayed the issue, saying Israel was not part of the diplomatic track.
«Pakistan’s position with regard to relations with Israel has been consistent since our independence,» he said, adding that Islamabad’s mediation efforts were focused solely on Washington and Tehran.
«Neither of their representatives was on the table … Pakistan was mediating between the U.S. and Iran,» he said.
Despite the current escalation, Saeed maintained that diplomatic channels remain open.
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Iranians react after a ceasefire announcement at the Enqelab square, in Tehran, on April 8, 2026. The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire Tuesday barely an hour before U.S. President Donald Trump’s deadline to obliterate the rival country was set to expire, with Tehran to temporarily reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz. (AFP via Getty Images)
«There is a lot of space … for resuming the process,» he said, suggesting talks could restart in Islamabad or elsewhere if both sides shift course.
«On Pakistan’s side, from my personal knowledge of the field marshal, they are relentless. They would not give up. They must not have given up. They must be continuously in touch with both sides. And they would try their best to convince both sides that the blockade is not going to be in their interest, in the interest of the region and in the interest of the international community.»
war with iran, middle east foreign policy, us navy, treaties, iran, sanctions
INTERNACIONAL
Mexico vows US will pay after ICE fatally shoots illegal migrant who allegedly attempted to ram agent with car
Mexico questions FBI role in Sinaloa Cartel abduction
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum strongly criticizes the U.S. government for its alleged involvement in the 2024 abduction of former Sinaloa Cartel boss ‘El Mayo’ Zambada. Sheinbaum explicitly states the U.S. lied about its participation, claiming a violation of Mexican sovereignty. This incident raises serious questions about diplomatic relations between the two nations and American intervention in Mexico.
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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum vowed to pursue «significant legal measures» against the United States after a Mexican national was fatally shot during an ICE operation in Texas.
Mexican officials counted 17 cases of Mexican nationals who have died in U.S. immigration custody, while Sheinbaum focused on Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, an illegal migrant who has lived in the United States for decades.
DHS officials claimed Araujo was the subject of an ICE arrest operation when an agent shot him in self-defense because he allegedly ignored orders and allegedly attempted to ram the agent.
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During Sheinbaum’s daily «Mañanera del Pueblo» press availability in Mexico City, she laid out her planned escalation of objections against U.S. immigration enforcement’s behavior.
«Our goal is to go beyond diplomatic notes and the representations we made to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. We cannot tolerate the mistreatment of our fellow citizens, our brothers and sisters, in the United States. So, we are proposing further measures,» Sheinbaum said in Spanish.
Sheinbaum said the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs will present the measures to Washington, and commented on Araujo’s death.
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Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum, left, listens to President Donald Trump, right. (Mandel Ngan/Getty Images)
«This occurred in the context of detention, even though their only offense was lacking documentation — and this despite having been hired by a U.S. company.»
She said the U.S. has no reason to hold people like Araujo in detention or allegedly «subject [them] to violence.»
«We are therefore preparing, obviously, more significant legal measures.»
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On Thursday, Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco said he is requesting criminal charges be brought in connection with the 17 Mexican nationals who died in U.S. custody, according to the AP, which reported the requests will be sent to the Justice Department and various state attorneys general.
Multiple reports suggested Sheinbaum’s demands would have no legal effect in U.S. courts.
Mexico City has claimed 14 of the 17 died in custody while three have been killed during active DHS operations, according to the outlet.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Justice Department and DHS for comment. The White House directed Fox News Digital to DHS.
Araujo, 52, was reportedly transporting workers to a jobsite for a homebuilding company in the Magnolia Park section of Houston.
As critics disputed the government’s recounting of events, objections arose over the lack of bodycams on the agents on-scene.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is seen. (Daniel Cardenas/Getty Images)
A DHS spokesperson defended the agents, telling Fox News they had not been issued body-worn cameras because of the repercussions of the Democrat-backed agency shutdown earlier this year.
«The process of purchasing and issuing body-worn cameras to all of our ICE field offices was interrupted by the Democrats multiple government shutdowns. Body cameras have been deployed to more than half the field offices, with the remaining half to receive them in the next 60 days,» a spokesperson said, while noting a 1,300% increase in assaults against agents during the same period.
Meanwhile, advocacy group Voto Latino condemned the Araujo incident, saying that the Mexican national should still be alive.
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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, left, speaks with President Donald J. Trump, right. (Mandel Ngan/Getty Images)
«His story is the embodiment of what it means to seek the American Dream — the same dream that drives so many of us to call this nation home. Lorenzo called the United States home for nearly 35 years, and his family deserves immediate answers that come from a completely independent process, not from the very agency that upended their lives,» Voto Latino executive director Beatriz Lopez said in a statement, which also called for Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s resignation.
Asked about Sheinbaum’s warning, an ICE spokesperson defended the agency and the accounting of events depicting Araujo as trying to hit an agent.
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«[He] refused to follow multiple verbal commands, and weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer resulting in our officer firing his weapon in self-defense,» the spokesperson said.
«DHS-OIG is leading an investigation into the agent-involved shooting. FBI Houston is leading an investigation into the potential assault on a federal law enforcement officer. This is a developing situation, and we will update the public when more information is available.»
Fox News’ Brooke Taylor and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
mexico, justice department, latino, deportation, homeland security, immigration, white house, donald trump, texas
INTERNACIONAL
Cuatro estudiantes costarricenses representarán al país en la Olimpiada Internacional de Química en Uzbekistán
Costa Rica volverá a tener representación en uno de los certámenes científicos más prestigiosos del mundo. Cuatro estudiantes de secundaria fueron seleccionados para participar en la 58.ª Olimpiada Internacional de Química (IChO), que se desarrollará del 10 al 19 de julio en Uzbekistán, luego de superar un proceso de clasificación que se extendió por más de un año y que puso a prueba sus conocimientos mediante evaluaciones de nivel universitario.
Los elegidos son Tamara Garrote Villalobos, Leonor Isaura Obando Umaña, Juan Pablo Valverde Cordero y José Edwin Chávez Rodríguez, quienes representarán a Costa Rica con el acompañamiento académico de la Universidad Nacional (UNA) y la Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR).
La clasificación de los cuatro estudiantes es el resultado de un proceso que comenzó en febrero de 2025, cuando decidieron inscribirse en la Olimpiada Costarricense de Química, en la categoría intermedia. A partir de ese momento iniciaron una serie de competencias nacionales en las que fueron avanzando gracias a sus resultados académicos hasta alcanzar la final del certamen.
Obtener una medalla en esa etapa les permitió postularse para integrar la selección nacional que representaría al país en la Olimpiada Internacional de Química. Sin embargo, el camino aún estaba lejos de terminar.
De los 18 estudiantes que aspiraban a integrar la delegación costarricense, únicamente 12 lograron avanzar a una segunda fase de selección. Posteriormente, una superfinal definió a los cuatro representantes nacionales mediante una combinación de pruebas de alta complejidad, con una ponderación del 60 % para la evaluación teórica y del 40 % para las pruebas experimentales de laboratorio.
Durante el mes de junio, los seleccionados participaron en un programa intensivo de entrenamiento basado en los problemas preparatorios oficiales de la competencia internacional, enfrentándose a contenidos que habitualmente forman parte de carreras universitarias en Química.
Cada integrante de la delegación tiene una historia distinta, pero todos coinciden en que la curiosidad científica y el gusto por la química fueron determinantes para alcanzar este objetivo.
Tamara Garrote Villalobos, estudiante de undécimo año, explicó que su interés por las olimpiadas científicas nació desde muy pequeña y que, desde noveno año, comenzó a prepararse específicamente en química.
“Cuando me propuse llegar a una olimpiada internacional, tuve que organizar muy bien mi tiempo. Ha sido una experiencia muy bonita, pero también muy retadora”, comentó.
Para Leonor Isaura Obando Umaña, quien cursa décimo año, la motivación proviene tanto de la ciencia como del ambiente que se genera entre los participantes.
La estudiante aseguró que disfruta cada etapa de preparación porque estudiar química es una actividad que la apasiona y aprovechó para enviar un mensaje a otros jóvenes interesados en seguir un camino similar: creer en sus capacidades, esforzarse desde el inicio y mantener la disciplina.
Juan Pablo Valverde Cordero considera que representar al país es el resultado de un esfuerzo construido a lo largo de toda su formación académica. A su juicio, el aprendizaje solo puede sostenerse cuando existe un verdadero interés por la materia.
José Edwin Chávez Rodríguez, por su parte, atribuye parte de este logro al apoyo recibido por uno de sus profesores, quien despertó en él un mayor interés por la química y lo motivó a participar en las olimpiadas científicas. Su meta en Uzbekistán es aprovechar al máximo la experiencia y luchar por obtener una medalla para Costa Rica.
La delegación costarricense estará acompañada por Manuel Sandoval Barrantes, de la Universidad Nacional, quien fungirá como jefe de delegación; Cristian Campos Fernández, de la Universidad de Costa Rica, como profesor mentor; y José Pablo Sibaja Brenes, también de la UNA, en calidad de observador científico.
Los tres tendrán la responsabilidad de orientar académicamente a los estudiantes y representar oficialmente al país durante la competencia internacional.
Sandoval destacó que la clasificación de los cuatro jóvenes refleja un proceso de preparación sostenido y un elevado nivel académico.
“Cada uno de ellos representa el talento de la juventud costarricense y demuestra que la dedicación y la pasión por la ciencia pueden abrir las puertas a los escenarios académicos más prestigiosos del mundo”, señaló.
Asimismo, agradeció el respaldo brindado por la Rectoría de la Universidad Nacional, cuyo apoyo permitió hacer posible la participación de la delegación en este importante certamen.
La Olimpiada Internacional de Química reúne cada año a los mejores estudiantes de secundaria del mundo en pruebas que evalúan conocimientos avanzados de química teórica y experimental. Además de fomentar la excelencia académica, la competencia promueve el intercambio científico y cultural entre jóvenes de decenas de países.
Con su participación en Uzbekistán, los cuatro estudiantes costarricenses buscarán dejar en alto el nombre del país y demostrar que el talento, la disciplina y el respaldo de las instituciones educativas pueden abrir las puertas a los escenarios científicos más exigentes del planeta.
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