Here are the latest developments on Monday related to the war in the Middle East, less than two days before the expiration of the fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States.
– A US delegation will soon leave for Pakistan – An American delegation will soon leave for Pakistan to engage in discussions with the Iranians, according to a source familiar with the matter, while Donald Trump considers it “highly unlikely” to extend the ultimatum he gave to Tehran.
These details come shortly after the US President stated that negotiators led by Vice President JD Vance were already on their way.
– Iran has not decided on participating in talks – Iran has stated that it has not yet made a decision on potential participation in new peace talks with the United States set to take place in Islamabad.
Tehran has also questioned Washington’s seriousness in pursuing diplomatic efforts, citing “violations” of the ceasefire set to expire theoretically from Tuesday night to Wednesday in Tehran time.
– Ormuz blockade: Macron denounces a “mistake on both sides” – “Following the American decision to maintain a targeted blockade on Ormuz, (…) the Iranian authorities have changed their initial position. (…) It is a mistake on both sides,” stated French President Emmanuel Macron.
– Xi Jinping says the Strait of Hormuz “must remain open” – Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized in a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that the Strait of Hormuz must “remain open”.
– Israeli drone attack in southern Lebanon, according to state media – “An enemy drone targeted a location (…) near the Litani River in southern Lebanon, despite the ceasefire,” reported the official Lebanese National News Agency (Ani).
Israel had warned that the army would use “all its force” to counter “any threat”.
– Hezbollah tells AFP they will break the Israeli “red line” – Hezbollah will break the separation “red line” that Israel set in southern Lebanon, one of its deputies told AFP, asserting that no one can disarm the movement, which seeks the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the region.
The Hezbollah is in favor of continuing the ceasefire that came into effect on Friday, but Lebanese President Joseph Aoun should abandon direct negotiations with Israel.
– Lebanese President says negotiations aim to end hostilities and Israeli occupation in the south – Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated that direct negotiations with Israel aim to end hostilities and the Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon.
He further clarified that the former ambassador to Washington, Simon Karam, will lead the Lebanese delegation in the “bilateral negotiations”, which will be separate from other ongoing discussions, alluding to talks between Iran and the United States.
– Israel warns Lebanese against returning to the south – The Israeli army warned Lebanese civilians against returning to dozens of villages in southern Lebanon, stating that Hezbollah activities in the area constitute a violation of the ceasefire.
Since the ceasefire between Israel and the pro-Iranian Islamist movement came into effect on Friday, thousands of displaced persons have started to return to certain locations in the south.
– Netanyahu promises “severe measures” against a soldier who hit a statue of Jesus – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised that “severe measures” would be taken against a soldier filmed hitting a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon with a mallet.
– “France was not specifically targeted” in Lebanon, says Macron – “It was indeed Hezbollah that targeted our soldiers. (…) They did not target them because they were French,” said President Emmanuel Macron, following the death of a French soldier on Saturday in an ambush against UN peacekeepers.
– Iran: reopening of the main airports in Tehran – The main airports in Tehran, Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad, have reopened after being closed due to the war with Israel and the United States, stated the Iranian Civil Aviation Authority.
– Oil prices soar again – Oil prices are sharply on the rise, as Iran reversed its decision to open the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, reigniting tensions with the United States ahead of the ceasefire deadline.
European stock exchanges ended lower, influenced by the hot and cold currents of tensions in the Middle East where hopes of negotiations and rising tensions alternate.
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