(Reuters) -Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, who also served as Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's special representative to the Middle East and to Africa, was relieved of his duties on Wednesday at his own request,

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will travel to North Korea in the latest sign of the countries’ deepening ties during Russia’s war in Ukraine.

President Trump previously said diplomatic talks could resume as early as this week, but Iran's foreign minister said he didn't think they would "restart as quickly as that."

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Jeddah on Tuesday, in the first visit by the Iranian official to the Gulf kingdom since Tehran's air war with Israel.