The Panamanian government said it would continue to defend "firmly" the country's sovereignty after rumors that Donald Trump is considering increasing the US military presence in the Central American country to restore Washington's control over the interoceanic canal, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
NBC television said earlier that "the White House has ordered the armed forces to propose options for increasing the US military presence in Panama".
There has been no comment from the Pentagon and the White House so far, AFP notes.
"I have nothing more to add, except that Panama will remain firm in defending its territory, the canal and its sovereignty", said Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martinez Acha, interviewed by the press. "Let me be clear: The Panama Canal belongs and will continue to belong to the Panamanians".
According to NBC, "The US Southern Command is developing plans ranging from closer cooperation with Panamanian security forces to the less likely option of US troops taking the Panama Canal by force", AFP notes.
The canal was built by the US and originally owned by them, starting operations in 1914.
In 1989, the US invaded Panama to capture dictator Manuel Noriega, whom they accused of drug trafficking, and since 1994 are gradually withdrawing their military bases in the country.
The last American soldier left the country on December 31, 1999, the day the interoceanic canal passed under the control of Panama under bilateral treaties negotiated during the term of the US Democratic President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981).
"The canal is managed by Panamanians and in the event of a threat, the only one who can call on other countries to protect the functioning of the canal is our country, the President of the Republic of Panama", stressed Minister Martinez-Acha.
Iran will decide how to respond to the letter from US President Donald Trump, in which he calls for nuclear negotiations with Tehran, after evaluating it, said Iranian diplomatic spokesman Esmail Baghai, quoted by Agence France-Presse and BTA.
The letter "is currently being is studying" and "the decision on how to respond will be made after a thorough assessment and study", Baghai told the media.
Trump said he was ready to talk to Tehran about a nuclear deal and revealed that he had written a letter to Iranian leaders to that effect, warning of possible military action if Iran refused.
Iran said it had received the letter on Wednesday, which was delivered by senior United Arab Emirates diplomat Anwar Gargash.
Iran and the United States have not had diplomatic relations since 1980.
Bagai did not specify whether the letter was delivered to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all strategic decisions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country would not negotiate as long as Trump continued his policy of "maximum pressure", AFP recalls.
Dozens protested at Trump Tower in New York against the arrest and planned deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student who played a leading role in last year's pro-Gaza protests on the Columbia University campus, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
"Jewish Voice for Peace", an organization that advocates for Palestinian rights, said on social media: "Police arrested hundreds of protesters, including Jewish elders, descendants of survivors of Holocaust and students, getting them out of the sit-in at "Trump Tower" "for hands and feet."
Among the protesters' demands was the release of Khalil, photos posted on social media showed.
According to media reports, police have broken up an unannounced sit-in in the lobby of Trump Tower, the high-rise in midtown Manhattan that is the main residence of US President Donald Trump.
The New York Police Department said about 150 people dressed in civilian clothes entered the building on Tuesday morning, then removed their outerwear to reveal red T-shirts with pro-Palestinian slogans.
"We ended up making 98 arrests for trespassing on the building and obstructing government service," said New York Police Chief John Chell.
According to US media, a court has temporarily blocked Khalil's deportation to allow time to consider the appeal against his extradition.
According to the "New York Times" the student, who has an indefinite residence permit, is married to an American citizen who is eight months pregnant.