UPDATED: Oct 29, 2026 10:24 ISTThe United States has initiated fresh outreach to Iran as the US midterm elections approach, with Vice President JD Vance reaching out to former Iranian armed forces chief Mohsen Rezaee. Rezaee, a hardline leader close to Mojtaba Khamenei, serves as a senior official on Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
The outreach marks a significant diplomatic shift after past discussions failed to halt hostilities and escalating regional tensions. Observers note a multi-pronged approach by the Trump administration, attempting diplomatic engagement while US diplomatic staff in the Gulf region is being drawn down.
Meanwhile, threats of potential military action persist, with Donald Trump previously warning of a possible second phase of Operation Epic Fury following the midterm elections. As US taxpayers bear an estimated 47-billion-dollar cost for the conflict, the outreach tests whether direct negotiations can avert fresh strikes or if the conflict will witness further escalation.
Read MoreVIDEOS FROM OTHER SECTIONSLATEST VIDEOSCongress Wins Nagpur MLC Polls; Clashes With BJP As EVM-Ballot Paper Row GrowsCongress candidate Abhijeet Wanjari has retained the Nagpur Division Graduates' constituency seat in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections, delivering a symbolic win on the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's home turf. The declaration of results led to clashes between BJP and Congress workers outside the counting centre, requiring police intervention to disperse demonstrators.
The poll outcome ignited an intense political war of words over ballot papers and electronic voting machines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior union ministers targeted the Congress for securing only one of 28 MLC seats contested across several states despite the use of ballot papers.
In response, opposition leaders questioned the BJP over its performance in Nagpur as well as losses in Varanasi, demanding national elections be conducted via paper ballots. Meanwhile, BJP workers in Varanasi demonstrated over alleged malpractices during counting following Samajwadi Party's victory.MLC Polls: Assam CM Mocks Congress With Burnol Jibe; PM Modi, Amit Shah Target RahulAssam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party following the MLC election results by sharing a burn ointment social media post.
Sarma mocked the opposition party for winning only a single seat, stating that one tube would not be enough for their setback. The development comes alongside political jabs from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding election losses, intensifying the political war of words.Vigilance Raids Ex-DMK Minister KN Nehru In Cash-For-Jobs Scam, Anbil Mahesh TargetedVigilance department officials have launched fresh raids at the properties of former Tamil Nadu minister KN Nehru in Tiruchirappalli in connection with an alleged cash-for-jobs scam involving over 2,500 recruitments.
The action comes after the Madras High Court dismissed Nehru's petition seeking a review of the first information report registered against him. The crackdown follows the arrest of another former cabinet colleague, Anbil Mahesh, who is under investigation in an alleged 400 crore rupee school certificate scandal.
Reacting to the ongoing anti-corruption enforcement actions against its former ministers under the TVK administration, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam hit back with political jibes.Varanasi MLC Polls Drama: BJP Stages Sit-in Alleging Fraud; SP Celebrates WinHigh drama unfolded outside counting centres in Varanasi following the Samajwadi Party's victory in the Member of Legislative Council elections. Bharatiya Janata Party cadres staged a sit-in demonstration and raised slogans outside the counting venue, alleging malpractices by the poll observer.
Demonstrators claimed that vote counting procedures were compromised and numbers were fudged. The electoral loss in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is viewed as a notable political setback alongside another loss reported in Nagpur.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party workers celebrated their poll victories, which also included key performances in Lucknow. Discussions highlighted that the outcome in graduate and teacher constituencies provides the Samajwadi Party with political narrative momentum ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, connecting electoral sentiments from Kashi to Ayodhya.