“Iran's blocked assets will also be released according to the memorandum of understanding that will be signed,” he said.

Araghchi also indicated that the framework would address broader regional issues, including the conflict in Lebanon, as part of efforts to reduce tensions across the Middle East.

The foreign minister warned that opponents of the negotiations were attempting to derail the process, singling out Israel as the main adversary of the proposed agreement.

“I must explicitly state that this agreement has enemies, at the forefront of which is the Zionist regime, and they are looking for pretexts to disrupt this agreement,” he said.

He stressed that pressure and threats would not change Iran's position and could instead undermine diplomatic progress.

“In these circumstances, threats are not only ineffective but also set back a potential agreement; threats must stop, and we must speak with the language of respect in order for us to reach an agreement,” Araghchi said.

His comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a deal with Iran could be signed “this weekend” and suggested a formal signing ceremony could take place in Europe.

Trump also said he had cancelled a planned military strike on Iran following recent exchanges of attacks between the two countries, including incidents linked to a U.S. Apache helicopter crash that Washington blamed on an Iranian drone.

The United States remains the world's largest contributor to global financial secrecy, according to the Financial Secrecy Index 2025 published by the Tax Justice Network, highlighting ongoing concerns about hidden wealth, offshore finance, and transparency in the international financial system.

The index ranks jurisdictions based on their contribution to global financial secrecy, combining secrecy levels with the scale of financial services provided to non-residents. The latest report places the United States at the top with a Financial Secrecy Index (FSI) value of 2,018, well ahead of Switzerland and Singapore.

The Tax Justice Network found that the United States accounts for 25.54% of the global market for offshore financial services , giving it the largest influence on worldwide financial secrecy.

Analysts say the country's vast financial sector, combined with varying transparency requirements across states, continues to attract international wealth and corporate structures.

Switzerland, long associated with private banking secrecy, ranked second with an FSI value of 1,398, followed by Singapore (1,228) and Hong Kong (1,111).

Several of the world's biggest financial hubs featured prominently in the top 10, including Luxembourg, Germany, the Netherlands and Japan .

According to the Tax Justice Network, the rankings do not necessarily indicate illegal activity. Instead, they measure how laws, regulations and financial practices can enable assets and ownership structures to remain hidden from foreign authorities.

The organisation argues that greater transparency is essential for combating tax evasion, money laundering and illicit financial flows.

Financial secrecy has become an increasingly important issue for governments seeking to recover lost tax revenues and strengthen oversight of cross-border financial transactions.

International bodies such as the OECD, the International Monetary Fund, and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) have pushed for greater information sharing and beneficial ownership disclosure in recent years.

Despite those efforts, the Tax Justice Network says major economies and financial centres still play a significant role in facilitating opaque financial arrangements.

“We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran, and we're going to be subject to finalisation of documents,” Trump said. “We should get done over the next few days. Probably have a signing maybe in Europe.”

The announcement came after Trump said he had cancelled planned military strikes against Iran following an exchange of attacks between the two sides. Tensions had also escalated earlier in the week after the crash of a US Apache helicopter, which Washington blamed on an Iranian drone.

Iran has carried out strikes against US military assets in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait during the conflict. Trump said the agreement would ensure that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon, describing it as the central objective of the negotiations.

“Most importantly, we have a deal that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, which was the whole purpose of what we had to go through to get this,” he said.

The president also said he had spoken with leaders across the Middle East, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as officials from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Turkey.

Trump claimed regional leaders welcomed the breakthrough and said the agreement could pave the way for improved relations across the region.

“The whole Middle East is happy,” he said. Iran had not publicly commented on Trump's announcement at the time of publication.

India has overtaken China to become the world's most populous nation, marking a historic demographic shift that is already reshaping global economic growth, labour markets and geopolitical influence.

According to the United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 , India's population is projected to continue growing for several decades, while China's is expected to decline steadily as the effects of low birth rates and population ageing intensify.

The latest UN projections highlight a dramatic reversal in demographic fortunes between the two Asian giants, which together account for more than one-third of humanity.

UN estimates indicate that India's population has risen from approximately 201 million in 1800 to around 1.46 billion today , making it the world's largest country by population .

Under the UN's medium-fertility scenario, India's population is projected to reach roughly 1.68 billion by 2050, before gradually declining to around 1.51 billion by the end of the century.

The growth has been driven by improvements in healthcare, declining mortality rates and a relatively young population. India currently has one of the world's largest working-age populations, a demographic advantage economists often refer to as a "demographic dividend."

However, experts note that turning population growth into economic prosperity will depend on creating sufficient jobs, expanding education and improving infrastructure.

China's demographic story is moving in the opposite direction.

The UN estimates China's population grew from around 330 million in 1800 to a peak of more than 1.4 billion in recent decades. Yet falling fertility rates, rising living costs and longer life expectancy have contributed to a sustained population decline.

Under current projections, China's population is expected to fall from about 1.41 billion today to 1.26 billion by 2050, before shrinking further to approximately 633 million by 2100.

The decline reflects one of the most significant demographic transitions in modern history. China's fertility rate remains well below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman despite policy efforts aimed at encouraging larger families.

Spain's iconic Sagrada Família is the world's tallest church, surpassing centuries-old European landmarks and reshaping the global ranking of religious architecture.

According to data compiled from Britannica , the basilica's planned central tower will reach 172.5 metres, placing it ahead of Germany's Ulm Minster (161.5m) and Côte d'Ivoire's Basilica of Our Lady of Peace (158m).

The milestone marks the latest chapter in a project that has been under construction for more than 140 years and remains one of the most recognisable symbols of Barcelona and modern religious architecture.

Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, the Sagrada Família has been under construction since 1882. The basilica's central tower, dedicated to Jesus Christ, is expected to elevate the structure to 172.5 metres, making it the tallest church building ever constructed.

The Sagrada Família Foundation has stated that the final height was intentionally designed to remain slightly lower than Barcelona's Montjuïc hill, reflecting Gaudí's belief that human creations should not surpass God's natural work.

The project received a major boost following the completion of the Tower of the Virgin Mary in 2021 and continues toward its final stages, despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Europe dominates the rankings

Europe remains home to most of the world's tallest churches, highlighting the continent's centuries-long influence on Christian architecture.

The current top ten includes:

Germany alone accounts for three of the ten tallest churches on the list.

Although surpassed in height by several structures, St. Peter's Basilica remains one of Christianity's most important sites.

Located in Vatican City, the Renaissance masterpiece was designed by architects including Michelangelo and serves as the spiritual centre of the Roman Catholic Church. Vatican News describes it as one of the most visited religious sites in the world, attracting millions of pilgrims annually.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump was asked directly whether the United States was restarting military strikes.

"You're resuming bombing?" a reporter asked.

"Yeah, well, we are. Based on the helicopter, I guess we have the right to do that. You know, they shot down a very, very incredible, actually an incredible machine," Trump replied.

His comments came after the United States carried out fresh airstrikes on Iranian targets overnight.

Earlier in the day, Trump defended the military action in a social media post, accusing Tehran of delaying negotiations.

Iran had "taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!" Trump wrote.

The latest strikes followed an incident near the Strait of Hormuz involving a US Apache helicopter. Washington said the aircraft was brought down after colliding with an Iranian drone, while Trump stated that Iran had "shot down" the helicopter.

According to US military officials, the strikes targeted Iranian air defence systems, ground-control stations and surveillance radar sites. The Pentagon described the operation as a response to the helicopter incident and what it called recent attacks on US personnel and commercial vessels in the region.

Tehran condemned the strikes and signalled that its position on negotiations could change.

Iran said it would "need to assess the situation" following the attacks.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later announced retaliatory strikes against several US air and naval facilities across the Middle East, describing them as a response to American aggression.

The exchange marked another escalation in a conflict that has intensified since the US-Israeli military operation against Iran earlier this year, with both sides trading strikes and threats despite repeated calls for de-escalation.

Speaking at the "Amin Iran " ceremony in Tehran on Wednesday, Pezeshkian said Iran would not bow to threats or bombing campaigns.

"The enemy has based all its plans on fueling discord, because it is impossible to force a country to surrender with aeroplanes and bombing," he told attendees.

"They will not be able to force Iran to surrender with these threats, and we certainly will not surrender," he added.

His remarks came hours after the United States confirmed strikes on Iranian air defence systems, ground-control stations and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz.

Washington said the operation was a self-defence measure following the reported downing of a US Apache helicopter and what it described as recent attacks on American personnel and commercial vessels in the region.

Pezeshkian said Iran wanted to move beyond a prolonged state of tension but would not compromise on its sovereignty.

"We must get out of this 'no war , no peace' situation. War is certainly not in the country's interest, but if they want to infringe upon our dignity, our soil, and our land, we will not surrender or back down. Let them dream of such a thing; it is not something we will ever retreat from," Pezeshkian noted.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later announced retaliatory strikes against several US air and naval bases in the region, describing the attacks as a response to American aggression.

The latest exchange marks another escalation in tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel, with all sides exchanging threats and military action in recent days.