US halts all visa issuance to Afghan citizens

The United States has paused Afghan visas, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.

The move came two days after a man from Afghanistan shot and killed one National Guard soldier and critically injured another near the White House.

"President (Donald) Trump's State Department has paused visa issuance for ALL individuals traveling on Afghan passports," Rubio wrote on the social platform X. "The United States has no higher priority than protecting our nation and our people."

"The Department of State has IMMEDIATELY paused visa issuance for individuals traveling on Afghan passports," read a statement from the agency.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the 29-year-old suspected shooter, entered the United States in 2021 under the Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome program. He applied for asylum last year, and it was granted earlier this year.

Lakanwal was "clean on all checks" before working with the CIA in his home country and again before coming to the United States, local media reported.

The shooting is now being investigated by the FBI as an act of terrorism.

Iran's response to the latest U.S. proposed text for ending the war was sent on Sunday to the Pakistani mediator, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported.

According to the proposed plan, at this stage, negotiations will focus on ending the war in the region, the IRNA report said.

On Feb 28, Israel and the United States launched joint strikes on Tehran and other cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior commanders, and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. interests in the region.