Only reason Iranians are alive is to negotiate: Trump

US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Tehran, claiming Iranians are 'only alive today to negotiate' and accusing them of 'short-term extortion' via the Strait of Hormuz. This comes as Pakistan attempts to mediate high-stakes talks in Islamabad between US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian officials led by Abbas Araqchi. However, Pakistan's credibility as a neutral mediator is under fire after Defense Minister Khwaja Asif posted inflammatory, anti-Semitic remarks against Israel. Meanwhile, the programme highlights how China is leveraging global distractions to tighten its grip on Taiwan. With the US focused on the Iran crisis, Beijing is combining military pressure with political outreach to Taiwan's opposition, aiming for what Xi Jinping calls a 'historical inevitability' of reunification. The report also explores China's $270 billion economic stake in West Asia and its cautious balancing act between Iran and Gulf partners.