Iran has conveyed conditions for ending its ongoing war with the United States through Qatari mediators, according to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Rezaei said talks involving Qatari and Pakistani mediators are continuing and Tehran’s terms have already been passed to Washington. Iran is seeking an end to fighting on every front, the release of its frozen financial assets and an end to the ongoing naval blockade. Rezaei said Tehran is now awaiting a response from US President Donald Trump. He also outlined Iran’s broader strategy toward Washington and warned that Iran is prepared for a full-scale, decisive war if diplomatic efforts fail. (PC: X)

More US troops have died in the war with Iran than the Pentagon has publicly disclosed, the Washington Post reported on Friday, citing six US officials familiar with internal casualty data.   Five officials said at least 22 service members have died, four more than the Pentagon's public database shows. A sixth official put the number at 23 since February 28, when the war began. Not all the undisclosed deaths are directly linked to fighting, but involved US personnel in the Middle East during the conflict.   Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth denied the report. Democratic senators have separately demanded a full account of the war's costs. (PC: X)

US President Donald Trump has extended the $100,000 fee on employers hiring certain H-1B workers for another year. The White House said on Friday that the rule will stay until September 21, 2027, with limited exceptions for cases in the national interest.  The fee applies to certain workers applying from outside the US. It does not apply to people already in the country, or to renewals. The White House said the step has reduced reliance on lower-paid foreign labour.  The rule is in court. A federal judge struck down the government's guidance in June, and the administration has appealed. Indian applicants face continued uncertainty. (PC: The Indian Express)

Thick black smoke and flames were seen near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, causing major flight disruptions. Flight tracker Flightradar24 rated the airport 5.0, its highest disruption level, citing long delays and several cancellations.   The incident followed an overnight air raid alert from Saudi civil defence. Residents in Riyadh and Al-Kharj were told to stay indoors because of a "hostile aerial threat." An all-clear was issued on Saturday morning. It was the first such alert since fighting in neighbouring Yemen intensified this month.   Saudi authorities have not yet commented on the cause of the smoke. Passengers should check flight status with their airlines. (PC: HT)

The United States and Denmark have agreed on a new security arrangement involving Greenland after months of tensions over President Donald Trump’s calls for greater US control of the Arctic territory. Trump said the pact would give the US permanent control over Greenland’s security and allow Washington to develop a larger military presence. However, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the agreement recognizes Denmark’s sovereignty and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination. The deal is expected to be formally signed during the UN General Assembly in New York next week and will require parliamentary approval. (PC: Getty Images)

US President Donald Trump has announced a three-way security agreement with Denmark and Greenland that he says gives Washington permanent control over Greenland’s security needs. The agreement has not yet been published and requires parliamentary ratification in Denmark and Greenland. According to US officials, the pact would provide the US permanent access, basing and overflight rights while restricting military bases and sensitive investments by countries such as Russia and China. Greenland’s strategic location supports missile-warning and space-surveillance operations, while its mineral resources add economic importance. Existing US facilities include Pituffik Space Base. Reports of three additional bases remain unconfirmed. (PC: Reuters)

Several Iranian women participated in Friday’s 10-kilometre Tehran 10K road race without wearing headscarves, despite Iran’s continuing compulsory hijab rules. The women’s race was held at Velayat Park, with participants completing two laps of the course. Videos showing runners with uncovered hair circulated widely on social media, attracting significant attention. The event came after authorities had previously taken action against organisers of a similar women’s race on Kish Island. Compulsory hijab remains part of Iranian law, although enforcement has varied in recent years. Iranian national record holder Parisa Arab won the women’s race and later shared footage from the event. 

US President Donald Trump said the United States and China conduct espionage against each other, ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to Washington. Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “China spies on us and we spy on them too,” while indicating that he would discuss a wide range of issues with Xi. The remarks come amid tensions over China’s alleged intelligence and satellite activities linked to Iran. Xi is scheduled to visit Washington on September 24, where trade, technology, rare earths and other bilateral issues are expected to feature in talks. (PC: AP)

US President Donald Trump announced on September 18 that CNN, MS NOW and Politico were being banned from the White House, accusing the outlets of repeatedly publishing what he called “fake news.” Trump made the announcement on Truth Social and warned that other media organizations could face similar restrictions. He did not specify how the ban would be implemented, and journalists from the three outlets remained on White House grounds later that day. CNN and Politico said they would defend their First Amendment rights. The announcement follows earlier disputes between Trump’s administration and several major news organizations over press access. (PC: X)

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf welcomed China and Russia’s vetoes of a US-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution concerning Iran. The proposal sought to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts supporting the 1737 Iran Sanctions Committee until September 2027. It received 11 votes in favour, while China and Russia voted against and two countries abstained, preventing its adoption. Ghalibaf said the vetoes rejected what he described as political misuse of the Security Council and called for defending multilateralism. China and Russia have disputed the legal basis of renewed sanctions measures against Iran following the expiry of Resolution 2231. (PC: X)