Donald Trump has demanded that countries including Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey sign peace agreements with Israel as part on an effort to end the Iran war.
Mr Trump took to Truth Social on Monday to say that progress had been made on a draft agreement with Iran but that he would only accept a “great deal for all or no deal at all”.
He said he told world leaders on a call on Saturday: “After all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords”.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Monday that the US will either have a good agreement with Iran or deal with the country “another way”. There was a "pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the strait, get the strait open, enter into a very real, significant, time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matter, and hopefully we can pull it off," Mr Rubio said.
Read MoreTrump gives Tehran new warning on nuclear weapons as US and Iran edge towards peace deal
Trump says he will not rush into deal with Iran as ‘time is on our side’
Key Points
- Trump: More countries should sign Abraham Accords as part of Iran peace deal effort
- Rubio says Trump will not 'make a bad deal' with Iran
- Iran says conclusions reached on many topics in potential memorandum but no deal imminent
- Stocks surge as optimism grows about end to Iran war
- Donald Trump: 'Only a great deal for all or, no deal at all'
Iran's foreign minister in talks with Qatar on potential peace deal
20:30 , Holly BancroftIran's top negotiator and its foreign minister were in Doha for talks with Qatar's prime minister on a potential deal with the US to end the three-month-old war, an official briefed on the visit said on Monday.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in a weekly briefing on Monday that a conclusion had been reached on many topics in the peace deal, but that does not mean that "we're close to signing an agreement".
The official briefed on the Iranians' Doha visit said that the discussions were focused primarily on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, while the country's central bank governor is also part of the delegation to discuss the potential release of frozen Iranian funds as part of a final deal.
Iran war poses new threat to harvests in hunger-striken Sudan
19:26 , Holly BancroftFarmers across Sudan say the hike in global fuel and fertiliser costs resulting from the Iran conflict will force them to cut back on planting this summer, restricting food production in a country where war has caused acute hunger.
Eight farmers from different parts of Sudan, as well as experts working in the sector, told news agency Reuters that fuel and fertiliser price increases would compound problems caused by a civil war, hitting staple domestic crops such as sorghum and millet as well as exports like sesame.
Sudan is particularly vulnerable to the fallout from the Iran crisis as it relies on the Gulf for more than half of its fertiliser needs, according to UN data, while the war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has left it entirely dependent on fuel imports. The country is also already at the forefront of a looming global food crisis at a time of shrinking aid budgets.
About 19.5 million people, more than 40 per cent of the population, are facing crisis levels of hunger.
Iran's president orders reopening of international internet access, state media reports
19:08 , Dan HaygarthIran's president Masoud Pezeshkian has issued an order to reopen international internet access, Iranian state media reported on Monday, citing an official after a near-90-day blackout in the wake of the war against the US and Israel.
The report cited the head of public relations at Iran’s Communications Ministry.
The mechanism for how and when Iran would reconnect to the global web following the decision was unknown.
Most Iranians have been unable to access the worldwide web for 87 days according to the internet observatory NetBlocks on Monday, with only a few citizens having access to expensive and advanced VPNs that circumvent the restrictions.
Authorities initially imposed an internet blackout from 8 January in response to nationwide anti-government protests, with connections gradually getting back to normal in February, before a new blackout was initiated following the start of U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran on 28 February.
In normal times, access to the global internet remains heavily restricted via censorship of many websites, while authorities are increasingly relying on an intranet to provide connected services without relying on the worldwide web, notably for schools which are currently following an online curriculum.
Full story: Trump demands multiple countries sign diplomatic deal with Israel as part of any Iran peace plan
19:02 , Dan Haygarth
Trump demands countries sign diplomatic deal with Israel as part of Iran peace plan
Did Marco Rubio call Donald Trump ‘stupid’? Racism question overshadows top US diplomat’s India visit
18:32 , Holly BancroftUS secretary of state Marco Rubio was caught off guard when confronted about racist remarks made against Indians in the US during his visit to the South Asian country to reset fraying ties.
During a joint press conference involving the US secretary of state in New Delhi on Sunday, a reporter appears to have indirectly raised president Donald Trump’s endorsement of an American podcaster’s remarks describing India as a “hellhole”.
Mr Trump had shared the “hellhole” remark on his Truth Social platform, prompting India’s government to denounce it as inappropriate and “in poor taste”.
“We have a lot of racist comments coming from the United States against Indians, Indian Americans. This goes against the basic premise of the India-US relationship. What’s your take on that?” Mr Rubio was asked during the press conference after his talks with Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar.
“Who made those comments?” Mr Rubio asked. “Which ones?”
The Indian reporter responded that the comments were “pretty well known” and that “we have seen endorsement of those comments”, without specifying what he was referring to.
Mr Rubio then offered a general answer saying that there were stupid people everywhere. “I don’t know how to address that but I’ll take that very seriously, about the comments,” he said.
Read the full story here:
Did Marco Rubio call Donald Trump ‘stupid’? Racism question overshadows India visit
Iran would open Strait of Hormuz 30 days after deal with US to end fighting, reports
18:29 , Dam HaygarthThe US and Iran are discussing a plan to open the Strait of Hormuz about 30 days after the two countries reach a deal to end hostilities, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Monday citing a Middle East diplomatic source.
Israel's PM Netanyahu believes he can't influence Trump on Iran deal - reports
17:31 , Holly BancroftPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told confidants in private conversations that Israel has little ability to influence Donald Trump's decision-making on Iran as the US president negotiates a deal in the nearly three-month-old war, two sources told news agency Reuters.
Mr Netanyahu's comments, described by two Israeli officials with knowledge of the conversations, come as Israel has largely been left out of talks to reach an initial deal to halt a war that began with joint US-Israeli bombardment.
Both the US and Iran have played down hopes for an imminent breakthrough in talks, and they remain at odds over Iran's nuclear ambitions, Tehran's demands for the lifting of sanctions and Israel's war in Lebanon with Hezbollah militants.
Mr Netanyahu is demanding the right to continue operations against perceived threats on all fronts, including Lebanon, a caveat that could derail a deal if Iran insists on a complete halt to Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon.
Trump hits back at ‘losers who know nothing’ after Republicans turn on Iran peace deal
16:24 , Holly BancroftPresident Donald Trump has lashed out at “losers who know nothing” after senior Republicans turned on his reported plan to end the war in Iran.
Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham and Mike Pompeo were among the critics after details of the proposal emerged over the weekend, warning it could be a “disaster” that ultimately emboldens Tehran.
“If I make a deal with Iran, it will be a good and proper one, not like the one made by Obama, which gave Iran massive amounts of CASH, and a clear and open path to a Nuclear Weapon,” the president posted on Truth Social late Sunday.
“Our deal is the exact opposite, but nobody has seen it, or knows what it is. It isn’t even fully negotiated yet.
“So don’t listen to the losers, who are critical about something they know nothing about. Unlike those before me who should have solved this problem many years ago, I don’t make bad deals!”
Recap: Trump goes on bizarre Truth Social posting blitz
15:35 , Holly BancroftPresident Donald Trump went on a Truth Social posting blitz Sunday morning, sharing AI-generated images of former President Barack Obama and other political enemies in prison — as well as a picture of bombs being dropped on Iranian ships.
Trump shared what appeared to be mugshots of Obama, former FBI Director James Comey, and six others, arranged in a way similar to the opening credits of The Brady Bunch. However, instead of the show’s title in the centre, the image read: “The Shady Bunch.”
“This is a bad (Sick!) group of people. Very destructive to our great Nation. Caused tremendous damage through Weaponization!” Trump posted on Sunday morning.
Trump then shared a series of images of himself and Chinese President Xi Jinping - including one in which he claimed “President Trump gets YOUNGER” - before posting the AI-generated image of bombs being dropped on Iranian ships. That image had the word “Adios” written across the top.
Read more from Isabel Keane in New York here:
Trump goes on bizarre Truth Social posting blitz
What are the Abraham Accords?
14:32 , Holly BancroftThe Abraham Accords were a series of diplomatic and commercial agreements forged with US influence between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain during Donald Trump's first term.
The accords represent the first normalisation of relations between Israel and Arab states since agreements between Israel and Jordan in 1994 and Israel and Egypt in 1979.
Morocco later signed the accords, and Sudan signed the declaration.
Trump: More countries should sign Abraham Accords as part of Iran peace deal effort
14:21 , Holly BancroftDonald Trump has said that it should be mandatory for countries including Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey to join the Abraham Accords en masse as part of an effort to reach a deal with Iran.
Mr Trump said he spoke on Saturday to leaders of those countries, as well as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, which has already signed the accords, a set of agreements to normalize relations with Israel.
"I stated that, after all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords," Mr Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Monday.
He said those countries would be honored to have Iran as part of the accords once a deal to end the war is reached. Trump also said negotiations with Iran were "proceeding nicely" but gave no indication a deal was imminent.
Donald Trump: 'Only a great deal for all or, no deal at all'
14:19 , Holly BancroftUS president Donald Trump has said that negotiations with Iran are “proceeding nicely”, but warned that he would only accept a “great deal for all or no deal at all” in a post on Truth Social on Monday.
He said that a breakdown of negotiations would send the US “back to the battlefront and shooting, but bigger and stronger than ever before - and nobody wants that!”
Mr Trump added that it should be mandatory for countries including Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey to join the Abraham Accords en masse as part of an effort to reach a deal with Iran.
UK households set to learn of energy bills hike from July amid Iran war impact
14:07 , Holly BancroftHouseholds will this week find out how much energy bills are set to increase by from July when the price cap is updated as forecasts point to a rise of more than £200 and a painful winter of sky-high bills ahead due to the Iran war.
Regulator Ofgem will on Wednesday reveal the level of the annual energy price cap for July to September for a typical dual fuel household across England, Scotland and Wales.
Analysts Cornwall Insight predicted last week the cap will rise by £209 a year to £1,850 from July 1 – an increase of 13 per cent on April’s £1,641 annual cap. It sets a maximum price per unit of gas and electricity used, meaning households only pay for the amount of energy they use.
This means households will be largely shielded over the warm summer months, but concerns are growing over a painful hit when the cap is reviewed in October and energy demand rises as temperatures drop.
Cornwall Insight’s forecasts suggest the cap in October will be at a similar level to July, even if the Middle East conflict were to end soon, due to the physical damage to infrastructure and lingering effect of disrupted supply.
Rubio says US will give diplomacy 'every chance to succeed' in Iran negotiations
13:34 , Holly BancroftTed Cruz shreds MAGA influencer defending Trump’s Iran deal: ‘Hush, child!’
13:09 , Holly BancroftSenator Ted Cruz fired back at a young MAGA influencer who defended President Donald Trump’s potential deal to end the war in Iran, telling him, “Hush, child. The adults are talking.”
The Texas Republican got into a fiery exchange with Alex Bruesewitz, a 29-year-old influencer who has been described as the “architect” of the Trump campaign’s “podcast game plan,” on X on Saturday.
The back-and-forth began after Cruz wrote that he was “deeply concerned” about some of the details on the not-yet-finalized deal with Iran.
“President Trump’s decision to strike Iran was the most consequential decision of his second term. He was right to do so, and we achieved extraordinary military results — including destroying all of their missiles & drones and sinking their entire navy,” Cruz wrote in a lengthy X post.
‘The one toy I took from my war torn home’: Plight of the 400,000 children displaced by Israel’s war on Lebanon
12:11 , Holly BancroftClutching a pack of Uno cards and a Little Mermaid colouring book, eight-year-old Nour* was forced to leave her home in southern Lebanon as Israeli forces bombarded the region.
Clothes were the only other item she carried as her family fled their town and joined more than one million internally displaced people fleeing Israeli attacks, which have razed villages to the ground.
These treasured possessions, Nour says, were gifts from her mum and dad. “They mean so much to me,” she says from a collective shelter in Beirut where she now lives with her sister Tala* and mother Sarah*.
It is a story all too common in Lebanon’s 632 collective shelters for refugees, where nearly 130,000 people are residing as they seek safety from ongoing shelling near their homes, which has continued despite a ceasefire agreement being extended for another 45 days.
Read more from Alex Croft here:
‘The toy I took from my war torn home’: The 400,000 children displaced by Israeli war
Iran central bank chief heads to Qatar after talks about frozen funds
11:59 , Holly BancroftIran's Central Bank Chief Abdolnaser Hemmati has travelled to Qatar, Iran's state media has reported, saying the visit follows talks with a Qatari delegation in Tehran regarding Iran's frozen funds.
Iran has been pushing in negotiations for its frozen funds abroad, including in Qatar, to be released.
According to Iran International, Iranian negotiators have demanded the immediate release of $12bn in frozen assets held in Qatar as a precondition for advancing talks with the United States.
The release of the Qatar funds are a strict precondition for the initial stage of the peace agreement, the report said.
'Monday is war day, Friday is peace day': Defence analyst translates Donald Trump's comments on Iran war
11:24 , Holly BancroftUS president Donald Trump might be getting cold feet over his Iran deal after facing strong push-back from Republicans over the leaked details, a defence analyst has said.
Michael Clarke, security and defence analyst at Sky News, interpreted Mr Trump’s comments over the past few days, where he initially said a peace deal with Iran was close before rowing back on Monday.
Mr Clarke said: “Monday is war day, Friday is peace day, because on the Friday he makes very positive statements about the closeness of the deal because that settles the markets. Then on Monday it’s ‘oh well we can’t get a deal so we might have to go back to war’.
“There is a pattern to it. You can go back over the past three months, Friday is peace day, Monday is war day. So yes, this is the day for reminding the world and the Iranians that the American military machine is still there.
“Where are we with the deal, there is some optimism that there is an outline of a deal. But over the weekend a lot of Republicans were pushing back on it, saying ‘if this is the deal, this is a lot worse than what we had in 2015, the deal that you wrecked, the Obama deal.”
“If it is the deal that is being briefed then that would be the case”.
Mr Clarke added that, in light of the push-back from Republicans like Senator Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham, “I think Trump is saying well it’s not the deal after all”.
Recap: Marco Rubio says the draft deal with Iran is 'pretty solid'
11:02 , Holly BancroftThe United States will either have a good agreement with Iran or deal with the country "another way," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday, as Washington played down hopes for an imminent breakthrough in the three-month-old war.
Mr Rubio told reporters in New Delhi that the US would give diplomacy every chance to succeed before exploring "alternatives", after President Donald Trump said on Sunday he had told his representatives not to rush into any Iran deal.
There was a "pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the strait, get the strait open, enter into a very real, significant, time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matter, and hopefully we can pull it off," Mr Rubio said.
A day earlier, Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social that the US blockade on Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz would "remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed".
"Both sides must take their time and get it right," he added. There was no immediate response from Iran's government. But the Tasnim news agency, linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, said the US was still obstructing parts of a potential deal, including Tehran's demand for the release of frozen funds.
European shares buoyed by signs of peace deal
10:23 , Holly BancroftEuropean shares opened on Monday at their highest levels in more than two months, buoyed by signs that Iran and the United States were negotiating an end to their conflict, easing concerns about inflation and a global economic slowdown.
The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.61 per cent at 628.93 points, as of 0712 GMT, trading just shy of a record high touched in late February, just before the Middle East war erupted.
Most sectors traded higher, led by banks with a 1.7 per cent jump, while regional airlines such as Lufthansa and Air France KLM gained 4.2 per cent and 9 per cent, respectively, as Brent crude prices slid 5 per cent to $98 a barrel.
Stocks surge as optimism grows about end to Iran war
10:08 , Holly BancroftStocks surged on Monday while the US dollar and oil prices slid as the prospect of a deal to end the Iran war buoyed risk appetite, although a lack of clarity over when the Strait of Hormuz would open kept enthusiasm in check.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he had told his representatives not to rush into any deal with Iran, as his administration played down hopes of an imminent breakthrough. Just a day earlier, Mr Trump said Washington and Iran had "largely negotiated" a memorandum of understanding on a deal that would reopen the waterway, which carried one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the war.
Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone, said markets have become less focused on the timing of a resolution and instead been keeping an eye on the tone of the headlines.
"The tone has been consistently towards some sort of resolution... We've become very patient for a resolution deadline."
Iran says conclusions reached on many topics in potential memorandum but no deal imminent
09:29 , Holly BancroftIran's foreign ministry spokesperson has said that conclusions have been reached on many topics discussed in a “potential memorandum” of understanding with the US, but this does not mean Tehran is close to signing an agreement.
The spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, added that Iran is negotiating an end to the war and is not currently discussing nuclear issues, and repeated that changes in the positions of US officials create problems for any agreement.
Iran not currently discussing nuclear issues, foreign ministry says
09:05 , Holly BancroftIran is negotiating an end to the war with the US and is not currently discussing nuclear issues, the Iranian foreign ministry has said.
Details of the draft US-Iran agreement emerged yesterday, with the deal reportedly including a commitment for Iran to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, with the details and timelines to be worked out later.
A senior Iranian diplomat told the ISNA news agency on Monday that Iran would discuss its nuclear programme and its highly enriched uranium with the US if Washington fulfils its commitments under the initial draft deal.
These issues would be discussed in the 60 days of negotiations that will follow the agreement, Hossein Nooshabadi said.
Top negotiator in talks with US re-elected as Iran's parliament speaker
08:08 , Harriette BoucherMohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has been Iran’s top negotiator in talks with the US, has been reelected as parliament speaker, semi-official Fars news agency has reported.
Iran has agreed 'in principle' to reopening Strait of Hormuz, US official says
07:56 , Harriette BoucherA senior Trump administration official outlined what he said were the latest contours of issues being negotiated with Iran.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official told Reuters that Iran had agreed “in principle” to open the Strait of Hormuz, in exchange for the US lifting its naval blockade, and to dispose of Tehran's highly enriched uranium.
The US understood Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had endorsed the broad template of the deal, he added.
There was no immediate confirmation from Iran or elaboration on what an “in principle” agreement meant. The US official said Washington envisioned first re-opening the strait and lifting the US naval blockade. Negotiating the details of the nuclear measures would take more time.
The official pushed back on suggestions that Iran had not accepted disposing of its stockpiled enriched uranium. “It's a question about how,” the official said.
A second senior administration official said on Sunday the proposed framework would give negotiators 60 days to reach a final deal.
Trump says peace deal with Iran ‘largely negotiated’ including Strait of Hormuz reopening
07:35 , Harriette BoucherHouseholds set to learn of energy bills hike from July amid Iran war impact
07:25 , Harriette BoucherBritish households will this week find out how much energy bills are set to increase by from July when the price cap is updated as forecasts point to a rise of more than £200 and a painful winter of sky-high bills ahead due to the Iran war.
On Wednesday, regulator Ofgem will reveal the level of the annual energy price cap for July to September for a typical dual fuel household across England, Scotland and Wales.
Analysts Cornwall Insight predicted last week the cap will rise by £209 a year to £1,850 from July 1 – an increase of 13 per cent on April’s £1,641 annual cap.
It sets a maximum price per unit of gas and electricity used, meaning households only pay for the amount of energy they use.
Cornwall Insight’s forecasts suggest the cap in October will be at a similar level to July, even if the Middle East conflict were to end soon, due to the physical damage to infrastructure and lingering effect of disrupted supply.
Tanker arrives in Japan after transiting Strait of Hormuz
07:09 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA crude oil tanker that passed through the Strait of Hormuz has successfully arrived in Japan, in the first instance of a Japanese-managed ship to have transited the key waterway since the beginning of the war.
The Panama-flagged Idemitsu Maru was carrying about 2 million barrels of Saudi crude oil, according to reports.
At least 39 Japan-related vessels remained in the Persian Gulf as of Sunday, the Japanese government said.
Ted Cruz shreds MAGA influencer defending Trump’s Iran deal
06:54 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarSenator Ted Cruz fired back at a young MAGA influencer who defended president Donald Trump’s potential deal to end the war in Iran, telling him, “Hush, child. The adults are talking.”
The Texas Republican got into a fiery exchange with Alex Bruesewitz, a 29-year-old influencer who has been described as the “architect” of the Trump campaign’s “podcast game plan,” on X.
The back-and-forth began after Cruz wrote that he was “deeply concerned” about some of the details on the not-yet-finalized deal with Iran.
More here.
Ted Cruz shreds MAGA influencer defending Trump’s Iran deal: ‘Hush, child!’
Iran moves World Cup base to Mexico
06:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran will base their squad in the Mexican border city of Tijuana during this year's World Cup after Fifa approved a request to move the training camp from Arizona.
"We will be based in the Tijuana camp, which is near the Pacific Ocean and on the border between Mexico and the United States," Iran's football federation president Mehdi Taj said in a video posted on Telegram.
Taj added that the move would help avoid visa-related complications and that the squad would be able to travel directly to Mexico aboard Iran Air flights.
Iran will play their first two Group G matches in Los Angeles, against New Zealand on 15 June and Belgium on 21 June, before facing Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.
Rubio says Trump will not 'make a bad deal'
06:27 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS secretary of state Marco Rubio has claimed that Washington was awaiting a "response from Iran" to finalise the peace deal.
“You’ve got to hear back, and it takes the Iranian system a little while longer to get back,” Rubio told reporters in New Delhi.
He added that the "president is not going to make a bad deal – he’s just not".
Iranians commemorate those killed in the US-Israel war on Iran
06:10 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Iran executes man involved in January protests
05:46 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran has executed a man over charges related to the anti-government protests that took place nationwide in January, state media reported this morning.
The individual was identified as Abbas Akbari, according to state media.
Rubio says US will either have a good agreement or deal with Iran 'another way'
05:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS secretary of state Marco Rubio said this morning that the US will either have a good agreement with Iran or deal with the country "another way."
The US will give diplomacy every chance to succeed before exploring the "alternatives," Rubio told reporters in New Delhi.
There is a "pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the strait, get the strait open, enter into a very real, significant, time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matter, and hopefully we can pull it off," Rubio said.
Israel says one soldier killed during combat in southern Lebanon
04:58 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Israeli military said on Monday that one soldier was killed during combat in southern Lebanon, adding that an additional soldier was severely injured in the incident and evacuated to hospital.
More than 3,000 people have been killed in Lebanon in the latest fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
Additionally, 22 Israeli soldiers and a defence contractor have been killed in or near southern Lebanon, and two civilians have been killed in northern Israel, Tel Aviv said.
Netanyahu says Trump affirmed Israel's right to defend itself against Lebanon
04:50 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a social media post said he and Donald Trump have agreed that “any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear danger,” and that Trump had reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself “on every front, including Lebanon".
The US official said the deal would guarantee Israel’s right to act against imminent threats in self-defence.
Israeli officials are concerned that Hezbollah remains a serious threat to Israel and that Lebanon is ill-equipped to disarm it.
A fragile, US-brokered ceasefire took effect in Lebanon on 17 April, but fighting has continued, mainly in the south.
Hezbollah has launched daily drone and rocket attacks on Israeli forces and northern Israel, and Israel has struck targets across Lebanon while its troops remain in large swaths of the south.
India increases fuel prices for fourth time in weeks
04:34 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarState-owned fuel retailers in India increased diesel prices by Rs2.71($0.028) per litre and petrol by Rs2.61 ($0.027), dealers said today, the fourth hike in May as authorities try to recoup losses driven by higher crude costs due to the Iran war.
This brought the effective price of petrol in the capital New Delhi to Rs102.12 or $1.07 and pushed diesel to Rs95.20 or $1.
Trump gives Tehran new warning on nuclear weapons
04:25 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarDonald Trump has warned that Tehran “must understand” it cannot have a nuclear weapon as the two sides edge towards a potential peace deal.
The US says it is close to reaching an agreement with Iran that would end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with expectations rising that a breakthrough could be imminent.
However, while adopting a more positive tone on, following previous reports the US was considering further strikes against Iran, Trump said his team would “not be rushed”.
His comments came soon after the US secretary of state Marco Rubio suggested an announcement could be made “within hours”.
More here.
Trump gives Tehran new warning on nuclear weapons as US and Iran edge towards deal
Oil falls to two-week low at $98 a barrel
04:14 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices hit two-week lows on Monday on optimism that the US and Iran were moving closer towards a peace deal even though they remained at odds over key issues, including blockades on the Strait of Hormuz that continued to restrict oil supply from the Middle East.
Brent crude futures fell $4.71, or 4.55 per cent, to $98.83 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate was at $92.03 a barrel, down $4.57, or 4.73 per cent.
Marco Rubio says 'significant progress' has been made but says deal 'not final'
04:13 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarSpeaking about the draft Iran deal, US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said that “some progress has been made - significant progress, although not final progress”.
He hinted that “there will be, maybe, more news coming out a bit later today”. Rubio, who is speaking at a news conference with India’s foreign minister in New Delhi, emphasised that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.
He said that it was possible that further good news is to come “at least in regards to the Strait”.
Iran war briefing:
04:12 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar- US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said that “some progress has been made - significant progress, although not final progress” about the draft Iran deal
- President Donald Trump has said he told his representatives not to rush into any deal with Iran, adding that the US blockade on Iranian ships on the Strait of Hormuz would "remain in full force and effect” until an agreement to end the war was reached
- Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian told state TV they were ready “to assure the world that we are not after a nuclear weapon"
- Oil prices hit two-week lows on optimism that the US and Iran were moving closer towards a peace deal even though they remained at odds over key issues, including blockades on the Strait of Hormuz that continued to restrict oil supply from the Middle East
