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World oil prices tumbled on renewed optimism about an agreement, after top US diplomat Marco Rubio suggested a deal could be reached within the day.

Iran warned Monday that, while some progress had been made, it was not yet close to striking a deal with the United States to end the Middle East war, after a weekend of mixed messages from Washington and Tehran.

World oil prices tumbled on renewed optimism about an agreement, after top US diplomat Marco Rubio suggested a deal could be reached within the day — but Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman responded: “No one can make such a claim.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif — whose government is spearheading efforts to mediate a negotiated agreement between the United States and Iran — met China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
US and Iranian forces have observed a ceasefire since April 8 while diplomats push for a negotiated settlement, although Iran has maintained controls on Gulf shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the US Navy has sought to blockade Iran’s ports.

“We thought we might have some news last night, maybe today,” US Secretary of State Rubio told reporters during a visit to New Delhi, referring to hopes for a deal.

“We have what I think is a pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the straits, get the straits open,” he said.
“We’re either going to have a good agreement or we’re going to have to deal with it another way. We’d prefer to have a good agreement,” he said.
But in Tehran, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei poured cold water on hopes for a quick final settlement.

‘Certain fees’

“It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion,” he told a weekly news briefing.
“But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent — no one can make such a claim.”

Baqaei stressed that Iran would continue to manage maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz by charging service fees — arguing that this did not amount to Tehran “seeking to collect tolls”.

“The services that are provided — navigational services in addition to the measures necessary to protect the environment of the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman — require the collection of certain fees,” he said.

Earlier, President Donald Trump had said that he had told his negotiators “not to rush into a deal, in that time is on our side”, and warned that the US naval blockade would remain in place until a deal was reached.
A post on Trump’s Truth Social read: “If I make a deal with Iran, it will be a good and proper one,” adding that: “It isn’t even fully negotiated yet.”
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he and Trump had agreed that “any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear threat entirely.”

‘Lasting peace’

Iranian officials have stressed that, despite the long-standing US demand for an end to its uranium enrichment, talks on the issue of Iran’s contested nuclear programme have been deferred until after an initial agreement.
The war, which erupted after the United States and Israel attacked the Islamic republic on February 28 and saw Iran respond with missile and drone attacks across the region, drove energy prices higher.
Crude oil remains expensive by recent standards, but prices have see-sawed and Monday’s mood of relative optimism caused prices to plunge by almost five percent.
The price of North Sea Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate slipped to $99.00 and $92.10 a barrel respectively.
On Saturday, leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, as well as representatives from Turkey and Pakistan, joined a call with Trump to discuss the deal.
The focus of international efforts moved to Beijing on Monday, where Pakistan’s Sharif and army chief Asim Munir, who visited Tehran on Saturday, met senior leaders including Xi and Premier Li Qiang.
Speaking to Chinese leaders, Sharif said “the world is passing through a critical moment”, Pakistan’s state-run PTV channel showed.
“Things are moving in the right direction. I would like to thank China’s support to promote peace.”

AFP

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A young politician and community mobilizer in Ebubu, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, Samuel Obe Ngobe, has been killed by gunmen suspected to be assassins.

It was gathered on Monday that the incident occurred on May 22 when the assailants invaded a hotel in the community owned by the deceased and shot him dead.

The two suspects, who were masked, invaded the area on a motorbike and went straight to the politician and opened fire on him.

It was also gathered that the assailants carted away cell phones from the hotel workers to prevent them from raising an alarm.

When contracted on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Command, Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, confirmed the killing.

The PPRO said, “Investigation is ongoing on the matter”.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Monday expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of ongoing infrastructural projects across Abuja, declaring that several of them were ready for inauguration.

Wike, who also threw his weight behind the emergence of Hon. Kingsley Chinda as governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, said “the lawmaker has the experience and political pedigree needed to be a governor.”

Speaking on Monday, during an inspection tour of key projects in the nation’s capital, Wike said the projects reflected the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to delivering visible governance through infrastructural renewal.

“I think today is one of the happiest days. The projects we inspected, obviously, they are ready for inauguration,” the minister said.

Wike first inspected the Renewed Hope City road project in Karsana, which he said was about 98 per cent completed, commending the contractor, Lubriks Construction Company, for what he described as excellent delivery.

He also expressed satisfaction with work on the Old Keffi Road and Dei-Dei road projects, noting that asphalt work had largely been completed while installation of streetlights was ongoing.

At the Airport Road to Kuje Road project being handled by Arab Contractors, Wike described the work as “fantastic,” saying the road would significantly improve connectivity and boost economic activities in the area.

“I’m sure anybody who goes there will admire it and that is what is called governance. We are very proud of the contractors and what they have done,” he stated.

The minister further inspected the Kuje-Gwagwalada road project being executed by Gilmor Engineering Limited, where he said infrastructure development had transformed the landscape of the area.

“You can see how infrastructure has changed the entire landscape of the Kuje area,” he said.

Wike later visited the City Gate project being handled by Julius Berger, describing the ongoing transformation as a major facelift for the capital city.

According to him, the project, initiated by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, would redefine the entrance into Abuja, especially at night.

“When you have a good woman who means well for the administration of her husband, I’m talking about the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, this is her brainchild,” he said.

“I’m happy with the contractor. They promised that by the end of May or first week of June they would hand over this project and they have kept to time.

“Anybody who passes here in the night will see a different city when they are coming in. They will know they are coming to the capital of Nigeria.”

On the emergence of Hon. Kingsley Chinda as the APC governorship candidate, Wike said; “A good product markets itself. Everybody knows that Kingsley Chinda is the material. He is quite experienced. He has worked with the executive and now in the legislature.”

The FCT minister added that Chinda’s political credentials and public acceptance made his emergence unsurprising.

Wike also said he was not surprised that the incumbent governor, Siminalayi Fubara, eventually withdrew from the governorship race, insisting that an earlier agreement had barred him from seeking a second tenure.

“I’m not surprised that the governor withdrew. In the first place, he ought not to have collected the form because the agreement was reached that impeachment should be dropped while he should also not talk about second tenure,” he stated.

Wike accused the governor of failing to demonstrate “gentlemanliness” by initially obtaining nomination forms despite the political understanding reached among stakeholders.

According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had intervened several times to restore peace in the state and prevailed on lawmakers not to proceed with impeachment moves against the governor.