SNAPSHOT | PM urges Johor voters to pick wise, humble reps; nuclear inspectors to return to Iran: US veep

KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 9am, 2pm, 6pm and 9pm.

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Johor polls

• Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged voters in Johor to choose leaders who are wise, courageous, principled and not arrogant in the upcoming state election.

  This is as such leadership qualities would enable bold decisions, he was reported as saying by Malaysia Gazette during a visit to a restaurant in Bukit Bakri, Muar, last night.

  “We want a leader in the state who is firm, just like the prime minister. Friends with (US President) Donald Trump and friends with (Chinese President) Xi Jinping.

  “If Europe is wrong, we say Europe is wrong. If Norway is wrong, we say so. That is how people respect us. We are independent and sovereign,” said Anwar, who stressed the importance of the state leadership to be aligned with the federal government.

US-Iran deal

• US Vice-President JD Vance said yesterday that international nuclear inspectors will return to Iran as a central component of the new agreement between Washington and Tehran, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

  

  He said the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United States will assist Tehran in destroying its highly enriched uranium stockpile, noting this requirement is “spelt out very clearly” in the memorandum of understanding.

  There are reportedly 453.6kg of enriched uranium trapped under the debris of sites targeted during the US-Israeli offensive last June.

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed the material is "under the rubble" with no immediate plans to retrieve it.

• Vance said the MOU between the US and Iran is only a broad framework, with many details to be worked out during upcoming technical negotiations, according to Anadolu Ajansi.

  He said it outlines a framework under which Iran would receive the benefits of the agreement if it fulfils its obligations.

  The agreement is reportedly scheduled for signing on June 19 in Switzerland. Full details of the agreement would be released within two days.

  Vance added the agreement does not involve sanctions relief or the unfreezing of Iranian assets, stressing that neither the US nor its Gulf allies had provided such concessions.

  He said Iran faces two possible paths: remaining under strict economic sanctions or allowing verifiable inspections to demonstrate it is not reviving its nuclear ambitions.

  

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran had removed what he described as a threat of “nuclear annihilation” to Israel, AFP reported.

  In his first public remarks since the US and Iran announced an agreement to end the war, Netanyahu claimed the campaign had pushed back, by years, the danger posed by Iran’s nuclear programme and insisted Tehran would never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, regardless of any agreement.

  He claimed the operation had struck Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure, eliminated nuclear scientists and senior leaders, and created a “credible military threat” to support any future deal with Tehran.

  Netanyahu also said Israeli forces would remain in security zones in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria for as long as necessary.

World Cup

• World Cup debutants Cape Verde delivered an upset against Spain, drawing 0-0 in their Group H match at Atlanta Stadium in the US, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

  The first half saw both sides probing for weaknesses. Spain enjoyed the majority of possession, while Cape Verde only managed to enter the Spanish half a handful of times.

  

  The star-studded Spanish attack, despite enjoying more than 70 percent possession and registering 23 shots, failed to find the net.

  Spanish striker Mikel Oyarzabal became the first player on record since 1966 to play the first 30 minutes of a World Cup match without touching the ball once, according to Opta, highlighting the lack of fluency in Spain's attack.

  Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha made eight saves and was instrumental in denying Spain a lead.

• Tunisia have sacked coach Sabri Lamouchi after their 1-5 defeat to Sweden in their opening Group F match, making him the first manager to lose his job at the tournament.

  According to Reuters, the Tunisian Football Federation said it had reached an agreement to terminate Lamouchi's contract and was working to appoint Mondher Kebaier as interim coach.

  Lamouchi, who took charge in January, had faced mounting pressure following Tunisia's 5-0 loss to Belgium in a pre-tournament friendly earlier this month.

  

  Tunisia next face Japan before concluding their group-stage campaign against the Netherlands.

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