Here are the latest developments on Monday related to the war in the Middle East, just under two days before the fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States expires.
– The American delegation will leave for Pakistan “soon” An American delegation will leave “soon” for Pakistan to hold discussions with the Iranians, a source close to the matter told AFP, while Donald Trump considers it “highly unlikely” to extend the ultimatum he gave to Tehran.
This clarification comes shortly after the US President stated that negotiators led by Vice President JD Vance were already en route.
– Iran has not made a decision on participating in talks Iran has stated it has not yet decided on participating in the new peace talks with the United States scheduled in Islamabad.
Tehran has also cast doubt on Washington’s seriousness in continuing the diplomatic path, citing “violations” of the ceasefire set to expire theoretically from Tuesday night into Wednesday, Tehran time.
– Ormuz blockade: Macron denounces “mistake on both sides” “It is likely that following the US 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 Lebanese official news agency (Ani).
Israel had warned it would use “all its might” to counter “any threat.”
– Hezbollah tells AFP it will cross Israel’s “red line” Hezbollah stated it will cross Israel’s separation “red line” in southern Lebanon, with one of its deputies telling AFP that no one can disarm the movement, which seeks the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the region.
The Hezbollah leader favors continuing the ceasefire that began on Friday, but Lebanese President Joseph Aoun should give up direct negotiations with Israel.
– According to Lebanon’s president, 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 Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon.
He also specified that the former ambassador to Washington, Simon Karam, would lead the Lebanese delegation in the “bilateral negotiations,” which will be separate from other ongoing discussions, hinting at the 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’s activities in the area constitute a ceasefire violation.
Since the ceasefire between Israel and the pro-Iranian Islamist movement went into effect on Friday, thousands of displaced persons have started returning to some villages in the south.
– Netanyahu promises “severe measures” against a soldier who struck a statue of Jesus Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised that “severe measures” would be taken against a soldier filmed striking a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon with a sledgehammer.
– “France was not specifically targeted” in Lebanon, Macron says “It was Hezbollah that, indeed, targeted our soldiers. (…) They did not target them because they were French,” President Emmanuel Macron estimated, after the death of a French soldier on Saturday in an ambush against UN peacekeepers.
– Iran: reopening of 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, announced the Iranian civil aviation authority.
– Oil prices soar again Oil prices have surged, with Iran reversing its decision to open the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, reigniting tensions with the United States before the ceasefire ends.
European stock exchanges closed lower, caught in the ebb and flow of tensions in the Middle East where hopes of negotiations and renewed tensions alternate.
