Wildfires exacerbated by a severe drought in the northwestern state of Rondonia, have devastated Brazil for over two months, seriously affecting the daily lives of local residents.
Located in the southwest Amazon, Rondonia is among the earliest and longest hit regions by the wildfires. In Porto Velho, the capital and largest city of the state, smoke has blanketed the streets, posing serious health risks due to heavy air pollution.
"The smoke is terrible, and the air is polluted. Many people are suffering from respiratory diseases and have been hospitalized. And it is getting worse," said a Porto Velho resident.
Currently, wildfires continue to rage in Rondonia, with vast forests and grasslands burnt. However, fires are not the only trouble.
"Now, 26 cities in the state are in an emergency condition. The states will receive aid from the federal government. Besides the wildfires, we are also facing another crisis, the water resource crisis," said Nivaldo Ribeiro, general commander of the Fire Department in Rondonia.
The severe drought has caused the Madeira River, the state's largest river, major water source and a crucial water transport route, to drop to a record low of 48 centimeters.
"We cannot travel on the river now. My family lives downstream, but we cannot go back, as the river is drying up and we cannot use boats, not even canoes. There are many shoals in the river, making it very dangerous. Commuting to school is also difficult, and many children living by the river are facing problems going to school. That is what is happening," said Camila, a local resident who lives by the river.
Wildfires, worst recorded drought in Brazil disrupt residents' daily lives
Wildfires, worst recorded drought in Brazil disrupt residents' daily lives
Wildfires and worst drought in Brazil disrupt residents' daily lives
Iran on Monday publicly rejected a core U.S. demand to cease all uranium enrichment, while projecting a dual-track strategy of guarded diplomatic engagement and reinforced military preparedness.
The moves came as the indirect Iran-US talks in Oman's Muscat last week yielded no breakthrough and regional tensions continued to simmer.
On Monday, Mohammad Eslami, president of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said that while Iran could consider diluting its 60-percent enriched uranium, it would only do so if all international sanctions were first lifted.
Eslami also dismissed past proposals to ship the material abroad for safekeeping.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi echoed this line on Monday, reaffirming Tehran's strategy of engaging in talks while refusing to concede on what Iran views as sovereign rights.
Pezeshkian and Araghchi have described the Muscat talks as a "good start" but warned that diplomacy must be based on "respect, not coercion."
In a televised speech on Monday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei urged Iranians to show unity and "disappoint the enemy" ahead of the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, amid rising tensions with the United States.
Meanwhile, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, is set to lead a delegation to visit mediator Oman on Tuesday.
Simultaneously, Iran has signaled a shift toward greater military opacity. Iran's state news agency IRNA said in a report on Sunday that the Defense Ministry has halted all public displays of new weaponry "for security reasons and to safeguard the principle of surprise," a move widely interpreted as preparing for potential conflict.
Positions from the United States and Israel have appeared equally firm. A report on Sunday by Israel's Channel 15 said the United States had privately messaged Iran, seeking Iran's "concessions" in the next round of talks, and expecting "serious and meaningful content."
On Monday, The Jerusalem Post, citing Israeli defense officials, reported that Israel has warned the U.S. it "will strike alone" if Iran crosses its "red lines" on ballistic missiles.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Sunday that he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on Feb 11 in Washington, and will discuss the U.S.-Iran negotiations.
Netanyahu is expected to demand that the U.S. promote the transfer of Iran's enriched uranium out of the country and restrict Iran's ballistic missile capabilities.
Iran rejects zero enrichment, projects dual-track posture amid stalled talks with U.S.
